Borders will launch the Patrick Jones book that Waterstones disavowed on orders from ‘Christian Voice.’… Read the rest
All entries by this author
From Meritocracy to Celebritocracy
Nov 20th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonThe celebrity class may help to persuade people that Britain is a fairer place than it really is.… Read the rest
‘Overparenting’
Nov 20th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonDoes it produce pampered ninnies or selfish, authoritarian robots? Or both? Or neither?… Read the rest
Sweden’s New ‘Halal-TV’ is Controversial
Nov 19th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonFun new show hosted by three women in hijab; secular and liberal Muslims not represented.… Read the rest
Religious Hegemony in Ulster
Nov 19th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonExclusivist Christian ideology reflects the narrow authoritarian religious and political culture of N Ireland.… Read the rest
Bush Admin Rushes Through a New Rule
Nov 19th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonSweeping protections for health care providers who oppose procedures on religious grounds.… Read the rest
‘International Socialism’ Hails the Taliban
Nov 19th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘For too long most of the left in Pakistan has identified the jihadis and the Taliban as the main enemy.’… Read the rest
The Terror of Palin
Nov 19th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonConcerned Women for America released a statement saying: ‘Take that, feminists.’… Read the rest
Women Still Wait for Justice in Algeria
Nov 19th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonFrom forcing women to veil, to rapes and assassinations, fundamentalists imposed their rule.… Read the rest
Run out and buy a Denali
Nov 18th, 2008 3:10 pm | By Ophelia BensonCongress is having fits trying to figure out what to do about the big 3 US carmakers. Let them sink? Give them billions and billions and billions of dollars? Retool them to make buses and repair bridges? No that last one isn’t a real proposal, at least not that I know of. Barbara Mikulski’s is real though.
Mikulski did not call for the $25 billion worth of federally guaranteed loans that Reid is seeking. Instead, she offered her own proposal costing $8 billion: tax breaks for those buying cars between now and the end of next year.
That’s the stupidest thing I’ve heard in – a day or two anyway. What a good idea! Give people tax breaks to encourage … Read the rest
Meera Nanda: ‘Why I Criticize Hinduism’
Nov 18th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘Hinduism, my critics tell me, is far more rational and “scientific” than these other “Semitic” religions.’… Read the rest
Nirmukta on Deepak Chopra and New Age Claptrap
Nov 18th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonThe writings and speeches of the new-age gurus are read with utmost seriousness by their followers.… Read the rest
Nirmukta on BJP Doublespeak
Nov 18th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonIt has been reported that there is a Military School in Nasik to train Hindu terrorists.… Read the rest
Does Religion Make You Nice?
Nov 18th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonOutsider status can have a corrosive effect on morality.… Read the rest
French ‘Virgin’ Annulment Reversed
Nov 18th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonAnnulment called ‘a fatwa against the emancipation of women’ and ‘a ruling handed down in Kandahar.’… Read the rest
The Atheists are Gathering
Nov 18th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonRun for your lives.… Read the rest
Herding atheist cats
Nov 18th, 2008 9:47 am | By Ophelia BensonAtheists “are talking to a very small slice of the population,” said Mathew Staver, a leading Christian conservative and law-school dean. “In some ways, they’re really just talking to themselves.”
Well no kidding. And what does Mathew Staver think theists are doing? In some ways, all groups are just talking to themselves; and in other ways not. But at least atheists aren’t also just talking to an imaginary friend, and we’re also not constantly invoking an imaginary friend when talking to other people, unlike some people I could name.
… Read the restIn rural Chambersburg, Pa., one Christian group responded to an “Imagine No Religion” billboard with a giant sign of their own, asking: “Why Do Atheists Hate America?”
Prince Charles Will Mouth Off as King
Nov 17th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonSays he would like his role to evolve so that his ‘knowledge and experience’ are not wasted.… Read the rest
Somalia: Islamists Whip People Who Dance
Nov 17th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘We neither killed them nor injured them, but only whipped them according to the Islamic law.’… Read the rest
Unelected Charles Wants More Power
Nov 17th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonWants to go on promoting anti-science nonsense as king.… Read the rest