DOD asked to investigate whether officers violated regs by appearing in a video for Xian group.… Read the rest
Christian Embassy
Jan 5th, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia BensonSo the Pentagon is full of fundamentalists, what’s the problem?… Read the rest
Wendy Doniger: Many Masks, Many Selves
Jan 5th, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia BensonIndividuals are often driven to self-impersonation through the pressure of public expectations.… Read the rest
Anthony Appiah on the Politics of Identity
Jan 5th, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia BensonOne’s own political preoccupations are just politics. Identity politics is what other people do. … Read the rest
Ian Hacking on Biosocial Groups and Identity
Jan 5th, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia BensonDrive to find genetic underpinnings for all things human is fueling fascination with biosocial gruops.… Read the rest
Persistence and tenacity
Jan 4th, 2007 8:20 pm | By Ophelia BensonA little more on this question of ‘faith’ and cognitive disability – in hopes of provoking more foolish outbursts from angry Christian commenters. No not really; in hopes of exploring the issue further.
There’s a basic and important difference between ‘faith’ and inquiry. Their goals are different. The goal of faith is faith. The goal is confirmation, continuation, stability, loyalty. It’s Queen Elizabeth’s motto: semper eadem: always the same. It’s continuity. The goal is to have faith and go on having faith and go on going on having faith. It’s sameness, tenacity, clinging, stubbornness, persistence. The virtue is in resisting doubt. In inquiry, understanding, knowledge-seeking, research – science – that’s not the goal. There the goal is to get it … Read the rest
Credible?
Jan 4th, 2007 7:24 pm | By Ophelia BensonScience classes are one thing, religious education or comparative religion is another thing, or perhaps two other things.
The government has cleared the way for a form of creationism to be taught in Britain’s schools as part of the religious syllabus. Lord Adonis, an education minister, is to issue guidelines within two months for the teaching of “intelligent design” (ID), a theory being promoted by the religious right in America…Adonis said in a parliamentary answer: “Intelligent design can be explored in religious education as part of developing an understanding of different beliefs.”…The theory has gained a foothold in the American state school system, sparking legal challenges from secular groups seeking to oust it from science teaching.
From science teaching. … Read the rest
Pork Soup Not Illegal, French Judge Finds
Jan 4th, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia BensonDenunciation is one thing, banning is another.… Read the rest
Johann Hari on the Tale of the Gay Sheep
Jan 4th, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia BensonWe cannot ring-fence whole areas from investigation because we might not like what we hear.… Read the rest
Julian Baggini on the Tyranny of Time
Jan 4th, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia BensonIf the gallop of time cannot be halted, can it at least be harnessed?… Read the rest
Executing Saddam Was an Act of Vandalism
Jan 4th, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia BensonHis mind would have been a unique resource for historical, political and psychological research.… Read the rest
Tariq Ramadan Calms Our Fears
Jan 4th, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘We must see the other’s world as a source of richness, not as a threat.’ Depends, dunnit.… Read the rest
Some Robust Good Advice
Jan 4th, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia BensonLet’s have more shame, deference, unquestioning obedience, and respect.… Read the rest
Creationism Edging into UK Schools
Jan 4th, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia Benson12 prominent academics wrote to Tony Blair saying ID should be taught as part of science.… Read the rest
Atheists speak out shock-horror
Jan 3rd, 2007 8:08 pm | By Ophelia BensonThis is rather depressingly stupid, in a predictable conformist unthinking way. Same old thing – atheism is shocking, offensive, in need of explanation, rude, violent, extreme, naughty, whereas theism is just fine, natural, as it should be, nothing to question, no problem, nothing to see here folks go on home. Why is theism the default position while atheism is something to draw a crowd of open-mouthed horrified finger-pointing gawkers?
[T]he fact is that in the waning months of 2006, a kind of militant atheism was making itself felt across the land. There were two best-selling books declaring belief in God to be a kind of mass delusion, and a harmful mass delusion at that…
Uh…yes; and? Is it so blindingly … Read the rest
Believers Bathe in Polluted River to Wash Away Sin
Jan 3rd, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia BensonPolice say number of people will vary, with much larger numbers bathing on particularly auspicious days. … Read the rest
Inexplicable Atheism Outbreak
Jan 3rd, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia BensonWhat could possibly explain such a thing?… Read the rest
Nigel Warburton Interviews Nerd
Jan 3rd, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia BensonCalls B&W one of the most intellectually stimulating websites around. Well said.… Read the rest
Sense About Science
Jan 3rd, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia BensonStars are often drawn into promoting theories, therapies, and campaigns that make no scientific sense.… Read the rest
Stars Must Check Scientific Facts
Jan 3rd, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘Some celebrity-backed campaigns have done more harm than good.’ Ya think?… Read the rest