Three of the nine authors are MCB activists. One major theme is that the MCB has been unfairly criticised.… Read the rest
All entries by this author
Nick Cohen on Livingstone’s Report 
Nov 17th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Report tries to bring the MCB back into the fold by accusing the critics of bigots of being bigots.… Read the rest
Jeanette Winterson Hugs Homeopathy
Nov 17th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘Homeopathy seeks to understand everything we are, everything we do, as a web of relatedness.’… Read the rest
Why Evidence-based Medicine Matters
Nov 17th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Winterson tries to tell us that for some mystical reason the healing powers of homeopathic pills are special.… Read the rest
Jesus and Mo Protest Homeopathy Conference
Nov 17th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Ridicule is a powerful weapon in the struggle against silly beliefs. Barmaid is speechless.… Read the rest
Look at the Methodology and the Personnel
Nov 17th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘Random’ week? Prince Naseem? Three MCB guys contributing to the ‘research’?… Read the rest
Livingstone’s Survey Finds Muslims ‘Demonised’
Nov 17th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Sounds worrying.… Read the rest
A World Awash in Conspiracy Theories
Nov 17th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
What difference does it make? When we believe in fairy tales, we keep ourselves timorous children.… Read the rest
Caliphate or no Caliphate?
Nov 17th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The road back to the caliphate is a dead end but propaganda lends an appearance of substance to an illusion.… Read the rest
Comedy from Theo Hobson
Nov 17th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘The atheists feel that they effortlessly realise moral perfection in their daily lives.’… Read the rest
Don’t forget the waterfall
Nov 16th, 2007 4:15 pm | By Ophelia BensonCheck out the comments on Richard Francks’s Descartes and God. They’re all terrific but especially the one by gfelis, which is to say, our friend G.
… Read the restEven if Descartes was right about our ability to doubt the existence of the material world when we really, really try very hard to doubt it, his insight merely reveals that absolute proof is a very stringent standard for knowledge (an ultimately unrealistic standard, sensible epistemologists now agree). It does not mean there is “no good reason to believe” in the existence of the material world, it merely means that even the very existence of the material world – as obvious as it is to us – cannot be proven absolutely beyond any
Such jeering
Nov 16th, 2007 3:26 pm | By Ophelia BensonYet another plea – or more like demand – that atheists shut up. Dave Hill foolishly comes right out and admits that’s what he’s demanding, in the very first sentence.
Even by writing this piece I risk perpetuating what I seek to end: arguments about religion that generate more heat than light.
He seeks to end arguments about religion – well at least we know where we are for a change. And where we are is (as so often) with someone who doesn’t think very clearly. He claims that ‘the critiques [AC Grayling and Polly Toynbee] offer, at least on this site, never develop beyond assertions that all religion should be got rid of because it’s always a bad … Read the rest
Grayling on New Militant Fundamentalist Atheists
Nov 16th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Those who reject religion have had enough of pussy-footing around its votaries’ sanctimonious self-regard.… Read the rest
Saudi Lawyer Reports Harassment
Nov 16th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
A court withdrew his licence after he objected to a ruling which penalised a female rape victim.… Read the rest
Sentence Harsh Even by Saudi Standards
Nov 16th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
For a woman to be alone with a man who is not her husband or a relative is a crime in Saudi Arabia.… Read the rest
More Profound Argumentation
Nov 16th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘Logic is brought in to comfort the atheist with rationalizations.’… Read the rest
Rape Victim Sentenced to 200 Lashes, Prison
Nov 15th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
She was initially sentenced to 90 lashes; on appeal, the punishment was increased to 200 lashes.… Read the rest
God as Alpha Wolf
Nov 15th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
If you think the dead king is watching you constantly, you are less likely to defect from alliances. … Read the rest
Evening Standard Debate: Islam Good for London?
Nov 15th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Panel: Ed Husain, Inayat Bunglawala, Michael Burleigh, Rod Liddle, Joan Smith.… Read the rest
Richard Francks on Descartes and God
Nov 15th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
We can’t prove the existence of matter, but we believe it exists anyway; is that irrational?… Read the rest
