“Those who, you know, live in high-rise apartment buildings writing for fancy newspapers in the middle of town after they ride the metro.”… Read the rest
RDF on One Law for All rally for free expression
Feb 12th, 2012 | Filed by Ophelia BensonRichard Dawkins reports, “a large crowd gathered round and some of them, from Muslim families, told me chilling stories.”… Read the rest
The Pod Delusion: the Rally to Defend Free Expression
Feb 12th, 2012 | Filed by Ophelia BensonOne Law for All’s rally, featuring Richard Dawkins, Nick Cohen, AC Grayling, Joan Smith and many others. Listen and enjoy.… Read the rest
Virginia to deny gay adoption on religious grounds
Feb 11th, 2012 | Filed by Ophelia BensonThe ones hurt the most by this bill are the children whose only wish is to have parents that love and care for them.… Read the rest
Councillor Imran Khan understands religious freedom
Feb 11th, 2012 10:48 am | By Ophelia BensonThere was, unsurprisingly, mixed reaction to the Bideford council ruling. But one reaction stood out – a Tory councillor’s, at that.
… Read the restImran Khan, a Conservative councillor on Reigate and Banstead Borough Council, welcomed the ruling.
Mr Khan is a Muslim but said he was not particularly religious.
“Religion has no place in politics. The High Court judgement is a victory for everyone who believes that democracy and religious freedom is the cornerstone of Western free society.
“The judgement clearly states that councillors are welcome to pray before meetings, thus respecting religious values.
“Under the old regime I had to wait outside the room while everyone else was praying. This meant that it appeared I was being late or just
(This is a syndicated post. Read the original at FreeThoughtBlogs.)
Mixed reaction to Bideford ruling
Feb 11th, 2012 | Filed by Ophelia Benson“The High Court judgement is a victory for everyone who believes that democracy and religious freedom is the cornerstone of Western free society,” said Reigate councillor Imran Khan.… Read the rest
Maya Khan fired over “moral crusade”
Feb 11th, 2012 | Filed by Ophelia BensonShe led a group of women that chased young couples through a Karachi park accusing them of bad behavior. To many Pakistanis, the images evoked comparisons with the Taliban.… Read the rest
Vigilantism in Pakistan
Feb 11th, 2012 | Filed by Ophelia BensonOn Samaa TV Maya Khan led a group of women in harassing couples in a Karachi park.… Read the rest
Community responses to the mistreatment of women are the problem
Feb 11th, 2012 | Filed by Ophelia BensonIs it possible that the difference between Asian and non-Asian men is the level of tolerance that their communities have for abusive and violent behaviour towards women?… Read the rest
And more stupid
Feb 10th, 2012 4:57 pm | By Ophelia BensonThe decision on Bideford Town Council’s opening prayers gave another opportunity for people to talk crap.
The National Secular Society and an atheist ex-councillor won a test case ruling that Bideford town council, Devon, was acting unlawfully by putting prayer on meeting agendas.
It is understood the ritual dates back in Bideford to the days of Queen Elizabeth I, and the council has recently voted twice to retain it.
Lots of things date back to the days of Queen Elizabeth I; what of it? In the days of Queen Elizabeth I church attendance was mandatory and you had to pay a fine if you didn’t go. Is that a good arrangement? Miss that, do we? The mandatory attendance was also, … Read the rest
(This is a syndicated post. Read the original at FreeThoughtBlogs.)
Incomplete nostalgia
Feb 10th, 2012 4:35 pm | By Ophelia BensonEric has an excellent post on a Telegraph article by Peter Mullen fuming about the terrible dreadfulness of the C of E in the matter of women bishops and priests. One thing in Mullen’s article snagged my attention right out of the gate.
There is now no doubt that the Church of England will consecrate its first woman bishop within the next couple of years. This will happen without any statutory provision for those who in conscience cannot accept women’s episcopacy. The significant minority of clergy and laity who oppose this innovation will simply be told to like it – or lump it and go elsewhere. Thus tens of thousands of traditional and faithful Anglicans will be unchurched.
What a … Read the rest
(This is a syndicated post. Read the original at FreeThoughtBlogs.)
Shunning at Mark Driscoll’s Mars Hill church
Feb 10th, 2012 | Filed by Ophelia BensonDriscoll has preached against “sinning through questioning” and once said publicly he would like to “go Old Testament” on dissenters.
Bishops see “religious liberty” as good advertising
Feb 10th, 2012 | Filed by Ophelia BensonThey think the Catholic church gets less deference than it once did and that that’s an outrage.… Read the rest
Obama surrenders to Catholic bishops
Feb 10th, 2012 | Filed by Ophelia BensonAdministration officials called the expected announcement an “accommodation” that they said sought to demonstrate respect for religious beliefs.… Read the rest
Bideford Town Council prayers ruled unlawful
Feb 10th, 2012 | Filed by Ophelia BensonAction was brought against Bideford Town Council by the National Secular Society after atheist councillor Clive Bone complained.… Read the rest
The sleep of reason
Feb 9th, 2012 4:29 pm | By Ophelia BensonOne of the things “faith” is good at doing – giving people a feeling of righteousness about doing something poisonous and horrible. Like the woman whose daughter
who suffers from bipolar disorder and limited cognitive abilities, went missing last Monday. For more than 48 hours, we had no idea where she was. Without all the gruesome details, after she was found, it came to light that she’d been brutally and repeatedly sexually assaulted.
A nurse gave the mother Plan B and told her she had 24 hours to use it.
But no. The woman decided not to give it to her daughter.
… Read the restIf the being that had done this to my daughter had been in front of me at that
(This is a syndicated post. Read the original at FreeThoughtBlogs.)
Worries that DSM-5 could define disorders into existence
Feb 9th, 2012 | Filed by Ophelia BensonA serial rapist could be classified as mentally ill, given a diagnosis of paraphilic coercive disorder.… Read the rest