To weaken or reverse regulations that protect America’s wilderness and other tree-hugging stuff.… Read the rest
All entries by this author
Having a ‘Costless’ Conscience 
Nov 28th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Delivering the people of Afghanistan back to the Taliban might not be a great outcome.… Read the rest
Malaysian Jailed for Torturing Indonesian Maid
Nov 28th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Yim Pek Ha scalded Nirmala Bonat with boiling water and burned her with an iron for making mistakes.… Read the rest
FFRF Plans to Sue Rancho Cucamonga
Nov 27th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
For having a silly name. No, for taking ‘Imagine No Religion’ billboard down.… Read the rest
Scientists Cannot Hide Away in Their Labs
Nov 27th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘It is vital that we help defend our rational, secular society against the rising tide of irrationalism and ignorance.’… Read the rest
Mark Vernon: Less Science, More Common Sense
Nov 27th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘Straightforward good judgment’ better than science or reason. But what is straightforward good judgment?… Read the rest
Science as a Way of Knowing
Nov 27th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
We need both: sound basic knowledge and the ability to discuss complex ideas that have a global impact.… Read the rest
Bad Neuroscience Journalism Awareness Month
Nov 26th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
How will the NY Times celebrate this year? With a study that reveals – sit down – that bullies like to bully.… Read the rest
Funding for Humanist Group Shock-Horror
Nov 26th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Equality and Human Rights Commission gave a £35,000 grant to BHA; also funds many religious groups.… Read the rest
Ottawa Citizen on ‘Defamation of Religion’ Ban
Nov 26th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘Canada rejects the basic premise that religions have rights; human rights belong to human beings.’… Read the rest
How humanists are like the Taliban
Nov 26th, 2008 11:23 am | By Ophelia BensonThe British Humanist Association got a grant from the Equality and Human Rights Commission to hold a series of debates about the place of religion in public life.
The four events will include speakers from faith groups but one of the keynote addresses is being delivered by the prominent atheist Professor AC Grayling…
But? Why but? What do they mean ‘but’? That a series of debates about the place of religion in public life should include nothing but ‘speakers from faith groups’? But that would be kind of a stupid ‘debate,’ wouldn’t it? More like a prayer meeting, or a preaching to the choir session? More like a complete waste of time in fact? Why would a series of debates … Read the rest
How constitutions differ
Nov 25th, 2008 3:49 pm | By Ophelia BensonBangladesh began sliding slowly towards Islamism following the assassination of Rahman in 1975. In 1977, references to secularism were deleted from the constitution and the phrase “Bismillah-Ar-Rahiman-Ar Rahim” (“In the name of Allah, the Beneficient, the Merciful”) was inserted. Five years later, General Ershad…introduced the Eighth Amendment, making Islam the state religion. The constitution now states that “absolute trust and faith in the Almighty Allah shall be the basis of all actions.”
Allah, the Beneficient, the Merciful, who (according to them) wants men to treat women like dirt, and treacherous disobedient dirt at that.
I was on a bus yesterday that had an ad inside with that saying on it, along with an injunction to … Read the rest
Mary Kenny Recycles Her Own Nonsense
Nov 25th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Has never met a cheerful atheist, therefore all atheists are miserable and dreary. Theism plays hell with logic.… Read the rest
New Laws Against Forced Marriage
Nov 25th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Court injunctions will forbid families to take people abroad for marriage, seize passports, intimidate victims… Read the rest
UN Urges End to Abuses of Women
Nov 25th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
In Kenya half of women experience domestic violence; in Iraq women’s rights have eroded in all areas of life.… Read the rest
Pickled Politics on the Global Blasphemy Law
Nov 25th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
A proposal for the criminalisation of speech that would allow clerics to decide what is an ‘insult to religion.’… Read the rest
Is Obama the Antichrist?
Nov 25th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Ooh, yes, could be, think some whack jobs in the Rapture Ready community.… Read the rest
Bush Rushes to Gut Endangered Species Law
Nov 25th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Spiteful hacks admit intent to complete changes quickly so that Obama can’t overturn them quickly.… Read the rest
The Religious Support Behind Proposition 8
Nov 25th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Theists voted to revoke the legal right for gays to marry for theological reasons: God doesn’t like it.… Read the rest
