Tariq Ramadan has a prezzy for us

Feb 23rd, 2010 11:22 am | By

Ah the indispensable wisdom of Tariq Ramadan. He’s full of it.

We are equal citizens, but with different cultural and religious backgrounds. So, how can we, instead of being obsessed with potential “conflicts of identity” within communities, change that viewpoint to define and promote a common ethical framework, nurtured by the richness of diverse religious and cultural backgrounds?

I have no idea. I don’t in fact think we can do that – for the boringly simple reason that it combines two incompatible items: the (welcome) claim that we are equal citizens, and the claim that ‘diverse religious and cultural backgrounds’ are (in and of themselves, with no qualification) rich and nurturing. The drearily obvious problem there is that many … Read the rest



Evolution and Science Education in Nigeria *

Feb 22nd, 2010 | Filed by

Leo Igwe says the teaching of evolution is not encouraged in Nigeria’s schools. … Read the rest



Another Tiny Miniature Step for Saudi Women *

Feb 22nd, 2010 | Filed by

They will be allowed to argue family law cases in court. Golly.… Read the rest



Two Important Events for Libel Reform Campaign *

Feb 22nd, 2010 | Filed by

Simon Singh’s libel case is before the Court of Appeal in London Feb 23; MPs release report Feb 24.… Read the rest



Major New Report on British Neo-Nazis *

Feb 22nd, 2010 | Filed by

Edmund Standing and Alexander Hitchens examine the ‘Blood and Honour’ international neo-Nazi movement.… Read the rest



Andrew Copson on Another Exemption for Faith *

Feb 22nd, 2010 | Filed by

The Catholic Education Service of England and Wales have proudly announced that their lobbying worked.… Read the rest



Everything by proxy

Feb 22nd, 2010 10:35 am | By

It’s interesting and frightening how pervasive the thought is, that people can be taken to represent or stand in for something else, in such a way that it’s useful and meaningful and appropriate to attack the former in order to punish or instruct or threaten the latter.

I just read one example in one of the answers to last week’s CIF ‘Belief’ question. Jonathan Romain knew a guy whose daughter was killed in a car crash whose cause was unknown.

But Henry knew why it had happened. God was punishing him for not going to synagogue. I told Henry over and over again that this was ridiculous and God would not punish his daughter for his supposed sin. But

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Vatican priorities chapter 2

Feb 21st, 2010 5:23 pm | By

Right, the Vatican and the pope and secrecy and what oh what is the catholic church supposed to do about all these priests having sex with children. Wikipedia provides a parallel translation of Crimen sollicitationis, with a little commentary. Clearly the subject is using the ‘sacrament of Penance to make sexual advances to penitents’; that’s the crime, that’s the accusation at issue, that’s the problem. It’s a church thing. And one bit of the commentary reveals the…weirdness.

Except in connection with the sacrament of Penance, canon law imposed no legal obligation – though a moral one might exist – to denounce clerics guilty of engaging in or attempting a homosexual act; but the procedure described in Crimen sollicitationis was

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Salman Rushdie on Amnesty and Gita Sahgal *

Feb 21st, 2010 | Filed by

Gita Sahgal is a woman of immense integrity and distinction; people like her are the true voices of the human rights movement.… Read the rest



Ireland: ‘Symphysiotomy’ Performed into the ’80s *

Feb 21st, 2010 | Filed by

Women’s pelvises were ‘widened’ to faciliate childbirth; the women were left crippled and in pain.… Read the rest



David Gorski on Facilitated Communication *

Feb 21st, 2010 | Filed by

When the facilitator did not know the questions, Houben’s answers were all completely wrong.… Read the rest



The Checks Were Not Quite Thorough Enough *

Feb 21st, 2010 | Filed by

The tests determined that Houben doesn’t have enough strength and muscle control to operate the keyboard.… Read the rest



Steven Novella on FC Failure *

Feb 21st, 2010 | Filed by

Once again pseudoscience fails under properly designed scientific testing.… Read the rest



The ‘Facilitated Communication’ Wasn’t *

Feb 21st, 2010 | Filed by

As skeptics thought, Rom Houben wasn’t typing on that computer.… Read the rest



My Contribution to CisF Belief Question [link fixed] *

Feb 21st, 2010 | Filed by

The gods are jealous, and if we don’t have any suffering, they’ll see that we get some.… Read the rest



The cutting room floor

Feb 20th, 2010 5:13 pm | By

I’ll get back to the pope and the Vatican and secrecy and Crimen Sollicitationis – today was a bit rushed – but meanwhile, there is the related, large, vexed subject of suffering, and what to think of it, and what to think of what religion tells us about it and does about it. I did a piece on the subject for Comment is Free – but I didn’t say everything I could have (in a longer piece) or thought of.

I didn’t for instance say that it’s true (as one commenter mentioned) that suffering can teach us sympathy for other people (or it can get us to shut up inside ourselves – it all depends), and that it’s also true … Read the rest



Islam Online in Praise of Caning Women *

Feb 20th, 2010 | Filed by

‘The women say that their penalty would help fight illicit behaviour in the Muslim-majority country.’… Read the rest



Women’s Groups Outraged by Caning *

Feb 20th, 2010 | Filed by

But various men said it’s fine if ‘carried out properly in accordance with Syariah law.’… Read the rest



Malaysia: 3 Women Whipped for ‘Syariah Offences’ *

Feb 20th, 2010 | Filed by

‘They expressed their repentance as they felt the punishment will rid them of their sin and guilt to Allah.’… Read the rest



Complications of ‘Faith-based’ Government Work *

Feb 20th, 2010 | Filed by

Can the Salvation Army get federal funds and still do whatever it wants to?… Read the rest