No more secularism for you, orders pope.… Read the rest
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Street censorship
Jun 8th, 2010 6:07 pm | By Ophelia BensonImagine being a writer, or a reader, in Egypt.
… Read the restMore recently, the literary magazine Ibdaa (“Creativity”) had its license revoked over the publication, in 2007, of a poem by the renowned poet Helmy Salem, deemed blasphemous because it personified God with lines such as: “The Lord isn’t a policeman/who catches criminals by the scruff of their necks”…Before Ibdaa was shut down, Salem had already been forced to return a State Award for Achievement in the Arts, honoring his entire body of work. The court that rescinded the award found that “The sin that he committed … against God and against society, challenging its traditions and religious beliefs should fail the sum total of his work, rendering him ineligible for
Jesus and Mo on the unity among religions
Jun 8th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonThey all hate atheists.… Read the rest
Jesus and Mo tell the barmaid about NOMA
Jun 8th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonScience and religion are totally different, so religion has to keep science on a short leash.… Read the rest
Egypt: Islamist lawyers go after 1001 Nights
Jun 8th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonBooks are subject to “street censorship” when the media and religious groups rouse public indignation and the authorities intervene.… Read the rest
Respect is being redefined as agreement
Jun 8th, 2010 1:46 pm | By Ophelia BensonSalman Rushdie knows a thing or two about free speech and the other thing.
“We are in danger of losing the battle for freedom of speech,” Mr. Rushdie said. It is being recast as a Western imposition, not a universal human right. Respect is being redefined as agreement, and censorship disguised as a virtuous defence of diversity…Freedom of expression and imagination “is now very much back in question, and is strongly under attack by religious authorities and religious armies of different sorts, and not only Islam,” Mr. Rushdie said.
And religious newspaper columnists are doing their bit, too.… Read the rest
Salman Rushdie on the threat to free speech
Jun 8th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonRespect is being redefined as agreement, and censorship disguised as a virtuous defence of diversity.… Read the rest
Catholic church finally dealing with Ireland!
Jun 8th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonThey’re cracking down on liberals.… Read the rest
Islam is not homophobic
Jun 8th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonOr maybe it is but so are we, or maybe we’re not but we were a few minutes ago, and besides, Islamophobia.… Read the rest
Get ‘inspired by Islam’
Jun 8th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonOh look, a poster saying Mo thought just what I think. I’m convinced!… Read the rest
Mohammed the fan of women’s rights
Jun 8th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonUK campaign to make everyone love Islam via posters saying Mo was lovely.… Read the rest
Telegraph reports its own hatred and parochialism
Jun 8th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonMedia reporter informs us of fury of Odone at C4 documentary on pope.… Read the rest
Jesus and Mo find the common thread in religions
Jun 8th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonWe all hate atheists. And compassion. We all hate atheists and compassion.… Read the rest
The Odone file
Jun 8th, 2010 7:11 am | By Ophelia BensonWant some more Cristina Odone? Why not – she repays attention. She does a nice job of modeling the religious mind for us.
As I read Nomad, the tone of this feverish, self-justifying tome reminded me of a Dutch social worker I met once. Hirsi Ali (who indeed worked for years as a translator for the Dutch social services) shares that same intolerant world view and politically correct instincts.
This is Odone, complaining about someone else being feverish and self-justifying, and intolerant and politically correct. Does Odone think her writing comes across as placid and generous, tolerant and autonomous? Seriously?
… Read the restIn her autobiographical accounts, Infidel (a worldwide bestseller) and now Nomad, Hirsi Ali blames everything that goes
Jesus and Mo find the common thread in religions
Jun 7th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonWe all hate atheists. And compassion. We all hate atheists and compassion.… Read the rest
Jesus and Mo on moral bankruptcy
Jun 7th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonThey have their moral compass in good order.… Read the rest
Telegraph reports its own hatred and parochialism
Jun 7th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonMedia reporter informs us of fury of Odone at C4 documentary on pope.… Read the rest
Peter Beinart on Zionism and liberalism
Jun 7th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonIn Israel today, humane, universalistic Zionism does not wield power; it is gasping for air. … Read the rest
Reza Aslan on the academy
Jun 7th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonWe need scholars who understand that there is no division between the world of academia and the popular world.… Read the rest
Thinking through the freedom flotilla
Jun 7th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonIf there is to be a future, it means thinking through the problems in ways that get beyond the familiar intransigence.… Read the rest