They are accused of starving a 1-year-old after the boy would not say ‘Amen’ before a meal.… Read the rest
All entries by this author
Tariq Ramadan Says ‘Islam Has Much to Offer’
Feb 23rd, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘Islamic literature is full of injunctions…Neither is it introducing dogmatism into the debate.’… Read the rest
Tariq Ramadan has a prezzy for us
Feb 23rd, 2010 11:22 am | By Ophelia BensonAh 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 Ophelia BensonLeo 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 Ophelia BensonThey 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 Ophelia BensonSimon 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 Ophelia BensonEdmund 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 Ophelia BensonThe 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 Ophelia BensonIt’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.
… Read the restBut 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
Vatican priorities chapter 2
Feb 21st, 2010 5:23 pm | By Ophelia BensonRight, 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.
… Read the restExcept 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
Salman Rushdie on Amnesty and Gita Sahgal
Feb 21st, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonGita 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 Ophelia BensonWomen’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 Ophelia BensonWhen 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 Ophelia BensonThe 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 Ophelia BensonOnce again pseudoscience fails under properly designed scientific testing.… Read the rest
The ‘Facilitated Communication’ Wasn’t
Feb 21st, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonAs 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 Ophelia BensonThe 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 Ophelia BensonI’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 Ophelia Benson‘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 Ophelia BensonBut various men said it’s fine if ‘carried out properly in accordance with Syariah law.’… Read the rest