McGrath says issues such as the meaning of life remain outside the scope of science. … Read the rest
All entries by this author
Myths About Darwin 
Mar 19th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The story is more subtle, complex and interesting than those invented by the myth-makers.… Read the rest
‘Flock’ Urge Bishops to Vote Against Gay Rights
Mar 19th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘Many Christians will be praying, giving up other activities that could rightly claim their attention.’… Read the rest
A puzzle about theodicy
Mar 18th, 2007 12:42 pm | By Ophelia BensonI’m reading an interesting book, The Improbability of God, edited by Michael Martin and Ricki Monnier. A collection of arguments on the subject. There’s a whole section on inductive evil arguments against the existence of God. In one, ‘An Argument from Non-gratuitous Evil’ by Thomas Metcalf, a half-sentence on page 330 started a train of thought: ‘If God exists, all the evil that befalls us is justified…’
The train of thought was about the subject matter of this whole section of the book, which is theodicy in general. It’s one that’s puzzled me for ages, but it took a perhaps slightly new form this time. The traditional idea or definition of ‘God’ is that it is omnipotent omniscient and … Read the rest
Three Killed in Attack on School in Thailand
Mar 18th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Police blame Muslim separatists, villagers blame police and paramilitary soldiers.… Read the rest
If Police Had Listened to Banaz Agha
Mar 18th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
She wouldn’t have been murdered for ‘honour.’ IKWRO offers a petition.… Read the rest
Ziauddin Sardar Sees Dogmatism Everywhere
Mar 18th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Those secular fundamentalists and scientific atheists – they’re such a pain.… Read the rest
Understanding the Fatwa on Taslima Nasreen
Mar 18th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
A time honoured tactic to incite the faithful to murder those who dare to criticise Islam.… Read the rest
Irish Religious Orders Promised to Help Pay
Mar 18th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Compensation for abuse in industrial schools, but the sums are not adding up.… Read the rest
Of the earth earthy
Mar 17th, 2007 12:40 pm | By Ophelia BensonI’ve been thinking (on and off) about something slightly puzzling. The people who rebuke militant atheists or Enlightenment fundamentalists or secular dogmatists or deaf scientistic positivists or some other combination of those and similar terms, often murmur something about the importance of religion for art and literature and music. After bumping into one of those murmurs a few days ago, I suddenly noticed a puzzle. It’s this: the one about literature isn’t true. That’s very odd, isn’t it; why isn’t it true?
Of course, there are exceptions; there are some bits of literature that are very goddy; I’m not ignoring Dante and Milton. But – most literature actually isn’t all that goddy – even literature written at times when atheism … Read the rest
Ben Goldacre Looks at a Smartness Pill
Mar 17th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The imaging data feel all sciencey, but conjurers would cite misdirection.… Read the rest
Oxford Students Petition to Oust Don
Mar 17th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Professor of demography helped found MigrationWatch in 2001.… Read the rest
Thugs Slaughter Busload of People in Thailand
Mar 17th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Nine killed; four women, two girls; teachers, students, traders, farmers; all Buddhists except driver.… Read the rest
Academic says Debate on Islam is Stifled in UK
Mar 17th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Lecture on Islamic anti-Semitism was cancelled after complaints from Muslim students.… Read the rest
Three Little Carrots? Ipods? Spoons? Frogs?
Mar 17th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Organisers of children’s performance racked brains to find inoffensive substitute for shocking ‘pigs.’… Read the rest
Peter Tatchell on Their Multiculturalism and Ours
Mar 16th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Misogyny and homophobia tolerated in the name of ‘maintaining harmonious community relations.’ … Read the rest
Culture Blocks Women’s Participation in Politics
Mar 16th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Half the world’s population remains excluded from decision-making along gender lines.… Read the rest
Ignoring the UN Meeting on the Status of Women
Mar 16th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Most of the people there represent NGOs that work for women’s empowerment around the world. … Read the rest
Theorising the International After the Subject
Mar 16th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
How does a post-human condition alter the relationship between self and other, inside and outside?… Read the rest
George Felis Invites Atheists to Come Out
Mar 16th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Invisibility has its benefits, perhaps, but the costs are far greater.… Read the rest
