We ought to have a rule: if you can’t read the research and comprehend it, you shouldn’t be writing about it.… Read the rest
All entries by this author
Grayling and Coyne discuss evidence for “God” 
Mar 15th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Could there be such a thing?… Read the rest
If it’s new and different, it’s god
Mar 14th, 2011 6:03 pm | By Ophelia BensonWhy would something new and astonishing and apparently a violation of what we know about nature be evidence of “God” or a god or the supernatural rather than…something new and astonishing and apparently a violation of what we know about nature?
I can easily imagine evidence of something new and astonishing and apparently a violation of what we know about nature. I have a harder time thinking of something that would convince me it was evidence of “God” or a god or the supernatural.
I’m not being stubborn or dogmatic in saying that. I’m saying I just don’t see why something new and the rest of it couldn’t point to A Big Unknown as opposed to the familiar though speculative … Read the rest
A C Grayling on God and disaster
Mar 14th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
If he is powerful enough to stop an earthquake, but created a world that inflicts agonizing sufferings arbitrarily on sentient creatures, then he is vile.… Read the rest
Pastor Terry Jones is back
Mar 14th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
He enjoyed his taste of fame and he wants more.… Read the rest
Newsflash: wood smoke is toxic
Mar 14th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Lots of chumps still think it’s “environmentally friendly,” but it’s actually as friendly as car exhaust.… Read the rest
Xian group launches petition against equality legislation
Mar 14th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Is it true that “individuals who hold to mainstream Christian teaching” are “being barred from different areas of public life and employment”?… Read the rest
She’s 11 years old. It shouldn’t have happened.
Mar 13th, 2011 6:27 pm | By Ophelia BensonLast week the New York Times reported that an 11-year-old girl was gang-raped in a Texas town. It also reported a bunch of people saying she dressed like an adult and that the rapists would have to live with this for the rest of their lives. It forgot to say that the girl might have some displeasure with the whole situation too. People were disgusted. The Public Editor (as they call him) said they had a point. But…
My assessment is that the outrage is understandable. The story dealt with a hideous crime but addressed concerns about the ruined lives of the perpetrators without acknowledging the obvious: concern for the victim.
Yes; good; but…..
… Read the restThe Associated Press handled the
NY Times says “gang rape story lacked balance”
Mar 13th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Balance?… Read the rest
What is neuroquantology?
Mar 13th, 2011 5:30 pm | By Ophelia BensonStephan Schwartz tells us that science is hindered and plagued and obstructed by three kinds of denialism
actively engaged in trying to impede the free development of science: the Creationists (e.g., Hornyanszky and Tasi, 2002), the climate change deniers (e.g., Lomborg, 2008), and the consciousness deniers who cannot, or will not, consider consciousness as anything other than materialistic processes.
Yes that’s right. Creationists deny evolution, climate change deniers deny climate change (that’s an easy one), and consciousness deniers…deny that consciousness is something that floats around the universe independent of brains or brain-like organs inside bodies that sustain them.
This is bad. They are breaking science.
… Read the rest…progress in understanding the nature of consciousness, particularly that aspect, the nonlocal that has not
Tarek Fatah, in hospital, gets death threats
Mar 13th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
He calls the cops. Two cops arrive to ask questions, then two intel officers arrive to shut the investigation down.… Read the rest
Stephen Schwartz explains about Deniers
Mar 13th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Of evolution, climate change, and nonlocal consciousness. Srsly.… Read the rest
Oh look, it’s NeuroQuantology
Mar 13th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Check out the table of contents.… Read the rest
Eric MacDonald on John Polkinghorne
Mar 13th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
A particle physicist turned Anglican priest, who writes consecrated pap for those who think that religion somehow completes or fulfils the scientific project.… Read the rest
Gingrich worked so hard his pants fell off
Mar 12th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
That is, things happened that were not appropriate. But now he’s converted to Catholicism, so his pants will stay on.… Read the rest
The Religion Communicators Council
Mar 12th, 2011 12:51 pm | By Ophelia BensonWhat is the Religion Communicators Council? I’d never heard of it before yesterday. I’ve heard of it now though, and I’m curious. Is it, like, a household name? Is everybody aware of it off in the background somewhere, taking care of Religious Communication?
I don’t know. I think it sounds pretty horrible though.
The Religion Communicators Council, founded in 1929, is an interfaith association of religion communicators at work in print and electronic communication, advertising and public relations.
It’s a PR-advertising outfit for Religion, all Religion, Religion as such.
So it would be a peculiar kind of laurel for a journalist to get an award from them, wouldn’t it? Journalists don’t really want awards from PR outfits and advertisers, … Read the rest
When interests conflict
Mar 12th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Should big PR firms that represent drug companies also run scientific societies’ media operations?… Read the rest
Ben Goldacre on why cigarette packs matter
Mar 12th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Cigarette packaging has been used for many decades to sell the crucial lie that cigarettes which are “light”, “mild”, “silver”, and the rest, are somehow “safer”.… Read the rest
Tudge reviews Flannery on Darwin
Mar 12th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
And recycles every dreary cliché there is.… Read the rest
His elbow slipped
Mar 11th, 2011 3:43 pm | By Ophelia BensonI was inspired by the new levels of Wallyism we dug up yesterday so I thought I would dig up a little more.
Am I rubbing it in? Yes, I am. But when you look at the newly-dug levels, I think you will see why. I think nose-rubbing is just the right thing to do about this degree of mendacious bullying. I mean, in particular, the place where Wally is caught lying by one “Sean” and uses four sock puppets posting right on top of each other to bully Sean and then congratulate himself on the bullying. What could be more suitable than to make this contemptible behavior public?
It wasn’t about gnu atheists this time, December 2009; it was … Read the rest
