Last year, more than 5,000 scientists signed an open letter to Italian President Giorgio
Napolitano in support of the defendants.… Read the rest
Italy: trial of scientists has opened in L’Aquila 
Sep 20th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Prizes
Sep 20th, 2011 10:56 am | By Ophelia BensonNever let it be said that Islamists don’t have a soft spot for children. Hell no – they’re as sentimental about the kiddies as Charles Dickens or the pope. They like nothing better than to give the wee ones a special treat during Ramadan.
A radio station run by Somalia’s al-Shabab Islamist group has awarded weapons to children who won a Koran-reciting and general knowledge contest.
Andulus radio, based near Mogadishu, gave the group which won first prize in
the Ramadan competition an AK-47 rifle and the equivalent of $700 (£450).The second prize-winners received an AK-47 and $500, while the third prize
was two hand grenades and $400.
Ahhhh – isn’t that sweet. Can’t you just see it? The … Read the rest
(This is a syndicated post. Read the original at FreeThoughtBlogs.)
Al-Shabab radio gives weapons prize to Somali children
Sep 20th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
First prize in Koran-reciting and general knowledge Ramadan contest: an AK-47 and $700; second prize an AK-47 and $500; third prize two grenades and $400.… Read the rest
One of these items doesn’t belong
Sep 19th, 2011 5:30 pm | By Ophelia BensonVia Metamagician, a piece by Brian Thompson of JREF on “diversity” at JREF.
we at the JREF do take diversity seriously, and it’s something we strive to achieve at our events. If the skeptics community is going to thrive and grow, it’s essential that no one feel unwelcome or excluded due to race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation.
I don’t understand that – it looks like a typo, or a thought-typo. It looks like grabbing an established category without taking the time to think about it and thus notice that it needs tweaking for the purpose.
There’s no sensible or substantive reason to cause people to feel unwelcome due to race, gender, or sexual orientation, but there can … Read the rest
(This is a syndicated post. Read the original at FreeThoughtBlogs.)
He had to wash his hair that day
Sep 19th, 2011 4:56 pm | By Ophelia BensonSo, did things get a little too hot for Bush? Did he suddenly remember some brush that needed cutting? Did he have that bad dream about the cops knocking on the door the way they did to Kissinger that time?
… Read the restNext week’s appearance by former U.S. president George W. Bush at an event hosted by a local evangelical Christian university has been cancelled.
The decision came Wednesday, the same day three former students launched a petition urging the university to cancel the speech. On Tuesday, a class valedictorian and professor publicly spoke out against the appearance following the resignation of another staff member.
Bush was scheduled to speak Sept. 20 to about 150 people at an invitation-only breakfast hosted by
(This is a syndicated post. Read the original at FreeThoughtBlogs.)
Bush’s Toronto appearance canceled
Sep 19th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Did someone remind him Toronto is in Canada? Those nagging worries about international law was it?… Read the rest
Stop Amputation Now
Sep 19th, 2011 | By Leo IgweI am writing to urge the governor of Zamfara state, Abdul’aziz Abubakar Yari, not to authorize the amputation of Auwalu Abubaka, 23, and Lawalli Musa, 22. Recently, a sharia court in the state convicted the two for stealing a bull and ordered that their hands be amputated at the wrist in public(1). The amputation is scheduled to take place on October 8. Meanwhile the judge stated that Abubaka and Musa could appeal against the sentence. However, right now there are not indications that they have appealed or can afford to appeal, so the fate of Abubaka and Musa is in the hands of Governor Yari.
In 1999, Zamfara state was the first to introduce sharia law. And in 2000, Zamfara’s … Read the rest
Austin Dacey on why skeptics should work globally
Sep 19th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
“The threats of dogma, fraudulent, paranormal and fringe science claims are
global,” says Leo Igwe. “So combating them requires a global approach.”… Read the rest
One hand is enough
Sep 19th, 2011 2:08 pm | By Ophelia BensonIt doesn’t matter what you believe. The important thing is how you live.
… Read the restAn Islamic sharia court in Nigeria has sentenced two men to amputation at their right wrists for stealing a bull, with the amputation to be carried out in
public if it is given final approval.The sharia court in the village of Nassarawan Mailayi in the northern state
of Zamfara on Thursday ordered that Auwalu Abubaka, 23, and Lawalli Musa, 22,
have their right hands chopped off for stealing a bull worth 130,000 naira
($867, 628 euros).
(This is a syndicated post. Read the original at FreeThoughtBlogs.)
Sharia court in Nigeria sentences two to amputation
Sep 19th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The sharia court in Zamfara state ordered that Auwalu Abubaka, 23, and Lawalli Musa, 22, have
their right hands chopped off for stealing a bull.… Read the rest
Don’t think, just live
Sep 19th, 2011 12:19 pm | By Ophelia BensonVia PZ, I find the latest iteration of John Gray’s world-weary anti-liberal schtick.
Most of it is the familiar Armstrongesque “religion is not belief it’s practice.” Silly atheists are barking up the wrong hydrant trying to say the beliefs are all eyewash because the beliefs don’t matter so ha. Art and poetry aren’t about establishing facts and religion is like that so ha. Myths aren’t silly and wrong, they’re great stories, except the one about science being a good thing, which is silly and wrong because humanity isn’t marching anywhere because it forgot to bring its boots so ha. You know the kind of thing.
… Read the restHuman beings don’t live by argumentation, and it’s only religious
fundamentalists and ignorant
(This is a syndicated post. Read the original at FreeThoughtBlogs.)
Teach evolution, not creationism!
Sep 19th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Creationism and ‘intelligent design’ are not scientific theories, but they are portrayed as such by some fundamentalists who try to have their views promoted in publicly-funded schools.… Read the rest
Scientists want tougher guidelines on creationism in schools
Sep 19th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
A group of 30 UK scientists have signed a statement saying it is “unacceptable” to teach creationism and intelligent design, whether it happens in science lessons or not.… Read the rest
With X at the center
Sep 19th, 2011 10:04 am | By Ophelia Benson… Read the restLed by the biologist Richard Dawkins, the author of “The God Delusion,” atheism has taken on a new life in popular religious debate. Dawkins’s brand of atheism is scientific in that it views the “God hypothesis” as obviously inadequate to the known facts. In particular, he employs the facts of evolution to challenge the need to postulate God as the designer of the universe. For atheists like Dawkins, belief in God is an intellectual mistake, and honest thinkers need simply to recognize this and move on from the silliness and abuses associated with religion.
Most believers, however, do not come to religion through philosophical arguments. Rather, their belief arises from their personal experiences of a spiritual
(This is a syndicated post. Read the original at FreeThoughtBlogs.)
Is the Australian Christian Lobby dominionist?
Sep 19th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Dominionism has already made huge inroads into every aspect of American government and society and is now spreading its tentacles across a number of third-world countries.… Read the rest
Yet another “beyond ‘new’ atheism”
Sep 19th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
“Mere liberation from theism is not enough.” Well no kidding.… Read the rest
New ex-Muslims tell their stories
Sep 18th, 2011 5:01 pm | By Ophelia Benson… Read the restLastly, I discovered the beauties of Science That really opened my mind to new possibilities. There was just so much wonder in the world that Islam seemed too petty and small. Why would Allah who creates the Universe worry about little things us humans do? Surely he has better things to do, and don’t tell me he watches over us because he cares for us and loves us. Have you read the Quran? If anything, Allah hates us considering the only ability he has shown in the Quran is the ability to find any excuse to torture you and bring you pain. Islam seemed to diminish the beauty of the Universe by teaching that you are born
(This is a syndicated post. Read the original at FreeThoughtBlogs.)
Steven Pinker argues humans are becoming less violent
Sep 18th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Pinker shows that, with notable exceptions, the long-term trend for murder and violence has been going down since humans developed agriculture 10,000 years ago.… Read the rest
Which twin has the Toni?
Sep 18th, 2011 3:28 pm | By Ophelia BensonNow it’s time for an ironic juxtaposition. Are you ready?
First, from Vision Forum -
Housewives Desperate for God
Next, from lawyer-turned-designer Duncan Quinn -
(This is a syndicated post. Read the original at FreeThoughtBlogs.)
Good girls don’t
Sep 18th, 2011 3:14 pm | By Ophelia BensonThey laughed when I pointed out that Laundry Girl’s mouth and lower face were hidden (artistically) by her pile of laundry.
Well…
Coincidence? I think not!… Read the rest
(This is a syndicated post. Read the original at FreeThoughtBlogs.)
