It is essential to hold on to the fact that in this country we are not a theocracy, but a democracy.… Read the rest
All entries by this author
Science Shows Mecca is the Center of the Earth
Apr 23rd, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonThe meeting in Qatar is part of a popular trend of seeking Koranic precedents for modern science. … Read the rest
David Edgar Ponders ‘Defectors’ from ‘the Left’
Apr 23rd, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonHis version of it anyway, which of course is the only orthodox one.… Read the rest
The search for meaning
Apr 23rd, 2008 11:36 am | By Ophelia BensonMartha Nussbaum talks to Bill Moyers.
[I]f you look into the religions, they have this deep idea of human dignity and the source of dignity being conscience. This capacity for searching for the meaning of life. And that leads us directly to the idea of respect. Because if conscience is this deep and valuable source of searching for meaning, then we all have it whether we’re agreeing or disagreeing. And we all ought to respect it and respect it equally in one another.
Hmm. I would say, as usual, it depends what kind of ‘respect’ is meant. There are, as usual, different possible levels of respect – recognition respect, substantive respect, and so on. In one way I agree … Read the rest
Andrew Anthony on David Edgar’s Defective Logic
Apr 22nd, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonEdgar is arguing is that unless you sign up to his vision of the left, you have by definition joined the ranks of the right.… Read the rest
Is Martha Nussbaum too Optimistic?
Apr 22nd, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonConservative Xians ‘should look more closely at the ethical reasoning of people who are agnostics and atheists.’… Read the rest
Life at Haut de la Garenne
Apr 22nd, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘It wasn’t a children’s home, it was a children’s prison.’… Read the rest
Free Speech and Clash of Cultures
Apr 22nd, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘On the Media’ talks to Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Ian Buruma, Flemming Rose, Ibrahim El-Houdaiby.… Read the rest
Manipulation of Medical Research
Apr 22nd, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonDoctors often sign studies in medical journals that were actually written by pharmaceutical companies.… Read the rest
Milk Teeth Found at Haut de la Garenne
Apr 22nd, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonOfficers have been searching four cellars referred to as ‘punishment rooms’ by alleged victims. … Read the rest
Hedges on sin
Apr 21st, 2008 12:18 pm | By Ophelia BensonOne more bit of Hedges, because Eric mentioned that his (Hedges’s) theological training left him befuddled by the idea of ‘original sin,’ and I was planning to quote him on sin anyway if I got the time. Pp 13-14:
We have nothing to fear from those who do or do not believe in God; we have much to fear from those who do not believe in sin. The concept of sin is a stark acknowledgement that we can never be omnipotent, that we are bound and limited by human flaws and self-interest.
Stark, staring bullshit. Could hardly be more wrong. Obviously there is no need whatever to believe in ‘sin’ to be aware that we can never be omnipotent and … Read the rest
Reason Flunks ‘Expelled’
Apr 21st, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonThe Wedge document makes it crystal clear what comes first for IDers, and it isn’t evidence. … Read the rest
Ben Stein’s Way With the Truth
Apr 21st, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonExpelled has some problems of its own with honest, open presentations of the facts about evolution.… Read the rest
Rowntree Survey: Religion as Social Evil
Apr 21st, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonMany said religion divided society, fuelled intolerance and spawned irrational policies. … Read the rest
All Pope All the Time
Apr 21st, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonMore sycophantic coverage of Ratzinger. You’d think everyone in the world was a Catholic.… Read the rest
Pope’s Gone Back Home
Apr 21st, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonHe prayed, he celebrated, he visited. So what?… Read the rest
Bad book revisited
Apr 20th, 2008 1:20 pm | By Ophelia BensonFor some reason I feel like giving you another dose of Chris Hedges. It’s a morbid interest, because really his book (I Don’t Believe in Atheists) is so bad it makes more sense to ignore it than to spend time saying what’s bad about it. Its badness isn’t what you’d call subtle or hidden. But I’m interested in these displays of determined stupidity, for some reason.
Page 6.
Hitchens and Harris describe the Muslim world, where I spent seven years…in language that is as racist, crude and intolerant as that used by Pat Robertson or Jerry Falwell.
No they don’t. That’s such an absurd claim that it’s stupid to make it, when it’s so easy to check just … Read the rest
Quilliam Foundation Launches April 22
Apr 20th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonCreated by former activists of radical Islamist organizations.… Read the rest
Jakarta: Protesters Demand Ban on Ahmadiyya
Apr 20th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonAhmadiyya believe Ahmad was a prophet; most Muslims believe Mo was last prophet. Solution: a ban.… Read the rest
Priests Brawl in Jerusalem Church
Apr 20th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonAn Armenian priest forcibly ejected a Greek priest from an area near ‘the tomb of Jesus.’ Amen.… Read the rest