From al-Shabab, at that; lucky him.… Read the rest
All entries by this author
Norway: Liberal Muslims Support Westergaard
Jan 5th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonA group of liberal Muslims is calling on the Islamic Council of Norway to demonstrate in support of Westergaard.… Read the rest
Fear and Censorship
Jan 5th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonMy take on Index on Censorship and the Motoons.… Read the rest
Leo Igwe Has Been Arrested
Jan 5th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonAlong with his father; they are at risk of being tortured.… Read the rest
Westergaard probably planted the axe, too
Jan 4th, 2010 2:19 pm | By Ophelia BensonA commentator at Comment is Free explains about the axe-attack on Kurt Westergaard the other day.
It was the latest in a string of attempted attacks that can be traced directly to the offence caused by Westergaard’s cartoons for Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten in 2005.
Unbelievable, isn’t it? A guy with an axe broke into Westergaard’s house and made an earnest effort to chop him up with it, and Nancy Graham Holm is pointing the finger of blame at Westergaard. For drawing a cartoon.
… Read the restWhy did the editors of Jyllands-Posten want to mock Islam in this way? Some of us believed it was in bad taste and also cruel. Intentional humiliation is an aggressive act. As a journalist now living
An Expanded List of Female Atheists
Jan 4th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonWhen other polls and lists seem to forget our existence, every little bit of awareness helps.… Read the rest
UK Universities as Centers of Jihadism
Jan 4th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonMany academics seem incapable of grasping that Islamist ‘radicalism’ is neither liberal nor left.… Read the rest
German Catholic Church Accused of Ignoring Abuse
Jan 4th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘Bishops should have seen that he likes boys and recognised his manipulative actions in parishes.’… Read the rest
US Evangelicals Meddle in Uganda
Jan 4th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonTalk about gay threat to family, are shocked when Ugandan government takes them seriously.… Read the rest
Russell Blackford Defends the ‘New’ Atheism
Jan 4th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonReligion is still telling everyone what to do, so it’s legitimate to question the source of religious authority.… Read the rest
You have your orders
Jan 3rd, 2010 4:13 pm | By Ophelia BensonChris Mooney is still at it, telling ‘scientists’ what they must do. They must learn to ‘communicate’ better. They must also learn to reassure trembling theists better. They keep not doing that, and Chris Mooney is getting pretty tired of the way they don’t listen to him.
… Read the rest…at its core, the objection to evolution isn’t about science at all, but about perceived threats to faith and moral values. The only way to defuse the conflict is to assuage these fundamental fears. Yet this drags many scientists out of their comfort zone: They’re not priests or theologians and don’t know how to sound like them. Many refuse to try; others go to the opposite extreme of advocating vociferous and confrontational
Newsflash: People Believe Anything and Everything
Jan 3rd, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonAmericans are more credulous than ever. How inspiring.… Read the rest
Deepak Chopra ‘Explains’ Nature of Universe
Jan 3rd, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonTells astrology conference that modern science has much to learn from the Vedic worldview.… Read the rest
Rick Warren’s Urgent Plea: I Want More Money!
Jan 3rd, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonAnd he gets it, $2.4 million of it; cites ‘miracle’ of ‘radical generosity’ on his way to the bank.… Read the rest
Chris Mooney Tells Scientists What They Must Do
Jan 3rd, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonStop being scientists and talk about religion instead.… Read the rest
Political Art is an Integral Part of Cultural Life
Jan 2nd, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonFreedom to prick pomposity, dogmatism and extremist views makes societies robust and creative.… Read the rest
Panic Room Saved Westergaard from Assassin
Jan 2nd, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonEmissary of religion of peace bashed at door with an axe, then threw the axe at a cop.… Read the rest
al-Shabab Hails Attack on Westergaard
Jan 2nd, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘It is a general obligation for all Muslims to defend their religion and the prophet.’ … Read the rest
Is Faith a Virtue?
Jan 2nd, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonMassimo Pigliucci says no, but listens to a talk on the subject anyway; remains unconvinced.… Read the rest
Wendy Kaminer on Index on Censorship
Jan 2nd, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonIt has failed to defend free speech when it is most endangered – by fear of reprisals from governments or mobs.… Read the rest