‘Healing patients’ via ‘the power of touch to reconnect nervous systems.’ Doctor doubts touch cures gangrene.… Read the rest
All entries by this author
The mystery of the providence of God
Jan 26th, 2010 12:56 pm | By Ophelia BensonThe horrible slush keeps pouring out as if from a broken sewer pipe.
Instead of admitting that we do not know how to reconcile a loving God with terrible disasters like Haiti and Indonesia, some theologians come up with cruel solutions…We do not know the answer to this conundrum except to say that is the nature of freedom in an imperfect world and that is the mystery of the providence of God. God will work all things for our good even if we don’t understand. That is what faith is: the moment we say we understand, there is no longer any faith.
We do not know except to say – it’s always ‘except to say,’ isn’t it – it’s never … Read the rest
Bangladesh: Rape Victim Gets 101 Lashes
Jan 26th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonFor getting pregnant. Her father was fined. The village elders pardoned her rapist.… Read the rest
‘Religious Freedom’ to Ignore the Law
Jan 26th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonIf Christian influence is a licence to practice bigotry at public expense, it’s time for armchair secularists to resist.… Read the rest
Why Atheists Are Helping Haiti
Jan 26th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonWe have an evolved psychological need to help people who are suffering, especially when we can see them.… Read the rest
The Job of the Humanist Chaplain
Jan 26th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonSomeone who can empathise without offering a load of meaningless or insulting platitudes.… Read the rest
More Theodicy, and More and More
Jan 26th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘God will work all things for our good even if we don’t understand.’ ‘Even catastrophes include divine presence.’… Read the rest
Just say No to equality
Jan 25th, 2010 12:36 pm | By Ophelia BensonThe Church of England comes right out and admits it – it is opposed to equality. It’s politely regretful – or to put it another way, it politely pretends to be regretful. But when a choice has to be made, it chooses the principle of male authority, and that’s that. It would like to be all liberal and modern and right-on and all, but when the stakes are this high, it just can’t do it. So sorry.
The Christian Churches, alongside many other faiths, support the Equality Bill’s wider aims in promoting fairness in society and improving redress for those who have suffered unjust treatment.
Except for we don’t. We say we do – but then when we’re actually expected … Read the rest
HRW to Canadian Embassy in Riyadh
Jan 25th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonWe look forward to your cooperation in this very urgent matter.… Read the rest
Katha Pollitt on Nazia Quazi
Jan 25th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonAn adult woman who made the mistake of setting foot in Saudi Arabia; her father is holding her prisoner.… Read the rest
C of E Officially Opposes Equality
Jan 25th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonWe support fairness but we want to go on excluding women and gays. Surely you understand.… Read the rest
Yasmin Alibhai-Brown is Conflicted on the Burqa
Jan 25th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonWhile fighting racism we cannot allow ourselves to become apologists for another, abhorrent injustice. … Read the rest
Football and Family and Forced Pregnancy
Jan 25th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonThey all go together, surely.… Read the rest
Religion ‘Fills the Void’ in Haiti
Jan 25th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘The earthquake is God’s voice and He will do other things. The stars will crash down onto the earth.’… Read the rest
Churches Demand Right to Maintain Inequality
Jan 25th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonMeanwhile demands that religious groups should comply with equality provisions have intensified.… Read the rest
The odyssey
Jan 24th, 2010 4:58 pm | By Ophelia BensonJames Wood doesn’t think much of theodicy.
But even when intentions are the opposite of Mr. Robertson’s, and in a completely secular context, theological language has a way of hanging around earthquakes. In his speech after the catastrophe, President Obama movingly invoked “our common humanity,” and said that “we stand in solidarity with our neighbors to the south, knowing that but for the grace of God, there we go.” And there was God once again. Awkwardly, the literal meaning of Mr. Obama’s phrase is not so far from Pat Robertson’s hatefulness. Who, after all, would want to worship the kind of God whose “grace” protects Americans from Haitian horrors
Which is why I wish Obama would leave the goddy … Read the rest
Iraqi Interior Ministry Still Backs ‘Bomb Detector’
Jan 24th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonDespite total lack of actual detection capability.… Read the rest
‘Religious Man’ Allowed to Commit Assault
Jan 24th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonCherie Booth let a guy who broke someone’s jaw in a fight to go free because he is ‘a religious man.’… Read the rest
Al-Qaeda Has Trained Female Suicide Bombers
Jan 24th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonThey believe in gender equality.… Read the rest
Islamist Cleric to Tour UK Universities
Jan 24th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonHe has described Jews as ‘monkeys and pigs’ and universities are ‘plural societies’ therefore…something.… Read the rest