The stoning youths felt bitter that instead of being executed the suspects were granted bail.… Read the rest
All entries by this author
Peter Tatchell on Nigeria’s Anti-gay Witch-hunt
Aug 29th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
There are vociferous local demands for the men to be stoned to death.… Read the rest
Sue Blackmore on Benjamin Libet
Aug 29th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Philosophers and scientists have argued that free will must be an illusion. Libet found a way to test it.… Read the rest
Postmodern Science
Aug 29th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Uncomfortable scientific findings are ‘deconstructed’ so as to reinterpret them as desired.… Read the rest
Hitchens on the road again
Aug 29th, 2007 9:09 am | By Ophelia BensonSome good lines in Hitchens’s account of his book tour. First stop was Little Rock:
At the end of the event I discover something that I am going to keep on discovering: half the people attending had thought that they were the only atheists in town.
Just so. That’s why some atheists think there really is a need for atheists to be ‘militant’ or ‘aggressive’ or ‘strident’ or, to put it in less vituperative language, articulate rather than silent and active rather than passive. That’s why some atheists think there really is a need for atheism to become public, talkative, unembarrassed, unapologetic, taken for granted, normalized, quotidian, rather than private, silent, ashamed, secretive, and weird. We think that because … Read the rest
‘God is Bigger Than Amnesty International’
Aug 28th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
US Bishops’ Conference said promoting access to abortion undermines AI’s moral credibility.… Read the rest
Religious ‘Rules’ Trump All, Irish Police Told
Aug 28th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘The turban is a vital part of the rules of the Sikh religion,’ said MP. … Read the rest
Missing the Point of Jane Austen
Aug 27th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Pride and Prejudice – you can see where it’s going, so why bother?… Read the rest
The Curse of Modernity [link fixed!]
Aug 27th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
George Scialabba on Philip Rieff’s problem with freedom.… Read the rest
Secular Schools: Children of the Enlightenment
Aug 27th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The pedagogy is predicated on provocative questioning, rational thought, argument and logic.… Read the rest
Arrests in Politkovskaya Murder
Aug 27th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Her writing was often polemical, fervent in support of human rights and the rule of law. … Read the rest
Abuse Plagues Muslim Women in Germany
Aug 27th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
There is a new willingness to discuss forced marriage and spousal violence against women.… Read the rest
Pink is Girly and Blue is Butch, or Perhaps Not
Aug 26th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Ben Goldacre leafs through the Ladies Home Journal.… Read the rest
Ben Goldacre Offers Homeopathy Journal Club
Aug 26th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The experimental papers from the special issue of Homeopathy on the memory of water.… Read the rest
Jesus Sympathizes With Mo
Aug 26th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
It seems every time you turn on the tv there’s another example of Muslims behaving badly.… Read the rest
5 Academics Arrested in Bangladesh
Aug 26th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The military-backed authorities accuse them of involvement in protests.… Read the rest
Blasphemous Balls
Aug 26th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Saudi flag – pillar of Islam – name of Allah – foot – mullahs – offence – sensitive – oh no.… Read the rest
Protected opinion
Aug 25th, 2007 2:25 pm | By Ophelia BensonPeter Irons crushes Stuart Pivar and his lawyer. First he does a quick rundown of his cv (modestly referring to ‘several books and law review articles’ – some of those books are pretty well thought of), then explains why: ‘I mention this background, quite frankly, to impress you with my credentials in this field, which are substantially greater than those of Michael J. Little.’ Ouch.
He points out that he was a close friend of Steve Gould’s, and adds that ‘if Steve were still alive, I think he would have a viable defamation action against you for your false statements about his views.’ Ouch.
He points out that the complaint Little filed is very badly drafted, ‘with no legal merit … Read the rest
Debating the Future of the Bamiyan Buddhas
Aug 25th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Should they be rebuilt, or left as a monument to destruction.… Read the rest
Iran Closes ‘Western’ Barber Shops
Aug 25th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Authorities say the barbers were encouraging un-Islamic behaviour by offering Western hairstyles.… Read the rest
