All entries by this author

Homa Arjomand Interview

Dec 7th, 2004 5:38 pm | By

For those of you who can get Ontario TV – Homa Arjomand of the campaign against Sharia courts in Canada is going to be on the interview show Person2Person today at 8:30 p.m. (20:30) Ontario time. The show repeats at midnight, then again tomorrow Wednesday at 3 p.m. (15:00).… Read the rest



Well Done, Bladders *

Dec 7th, 2004 | Filed by

Rowan Atkinson and others criticise religious hatred clause.… Read the rest



Wot’s Proactive Translatology? *

Dec 7th, 2004 | Filed by

Discoursal practice implies social commitment. Etc. [link fixed]… Read the rest



Were Enlightenment Deists Paper Tigers? *

Dec 7th, 2004 | Filed by

Was deism a mere bogey invented by bishops to frighten waverers?… Read the rest



New Offense of ‘Inciting Religious Hatred’ *

Dec 7th, 2004 | Filed by

Via words that are abusive, insulting, likely to stir up racial hatred.… Read the rest



When Diversity Meets Islamism *

Dec 7th, 2004 | Filed by

And when tolerance meets violence against women.… Read the rest



Yet More Words

Dec 6th, 2004 9:38 pm | By

I’ve been thinking about one particular idea in the argument over that recurring (or ‘really tedious’) subject of the conflation of race and religion and how that conflation works to head off and prevent criticism. This idea:

whilst attacks on religions can be merely the stuff of enlightenment rationalism, they can also be the cover for nasty attempts to marginalise whole groups of people.

Well, yes, they can be, but then ‘attacks on’ or criticisms of pretty much anything can be that. Including, for example, attacks on atheism and secularism. I would in fact say that there is a concerted effort under way in the US right now to do just exactly that – to criticise or attack atheism and … Read the rest



‘The Delusional is no Longer Marginal’ *

Dec 6th, 2004 | Filed by

Bill Moyers on the environment and the ‘rapture index.’… Read the rest



Death Threats Against Mimount Bousakla *

Dec 6th, 2004 | Filed by

Socialist senator Mimount Bousakla in Belgium under police protection after death threats. … Read the rest



Between Right-wing Extremists and Islamic Fundamentalists *

Dec 6th, 2004 | Filed by

‘If you are a girl…It is always fear and fear and fear.’… Read the rest



Forthright Editorial on Prevention of Female Sport *

Dec 6th, 2004 | Filed by

Bangladesh Independent rebukes ‘a few bigoted elements.’ [scroll down]… Read the rest



Women Kept Out of Sport by Islamic Group *

Dec 6th, 2004 | Filed by

Another victory for the confinement and frustration of women.… Read the rest



Critical Whiteness Studies – the Introduction *

Dec 6th, 2004 | Filed by

High ratio of words to anything said. Repetition augments word count.… Read the rest



Researcher Removes Name From Prayer Study *

Dec 6th, 2004 | Filed by

Specialist takes name off controversial study of prayer’s effect on fertility.… Read the rest



George Kateb on Courage as Virtue *

Dec 6th, 2004 | Filed by

War, fear, shame; delight in seeing, comradeship, destruction.… Read the rest



Alan Ryan on Intellectual Courage *

Dec 6th, 2004 | Filed by

Aristotle, self-reliance, Hobbes, the problem of certainty.… Read the rest



Only Be Sure Always to Call it Please ‘Research’

Dec 5th, 2004 9:56 pm | By

Ever read any books about angels? No? No, I hadn’t either, but I’ve read bits of one now, and I must say, if you’re looking for a good laugh, books about angels (if this one is anything to go by, at least) are pretty damn funny. Books about Wicca are quite mirth-inducing, too.

With the angel book, I keep opening it at random, and the first thing I read is so absurd I find myself cackling before I’ve read ten words. I’m beginning to think that every single line of the book is packed full of unintentional humour. Shall I give you a taste? These are just random, mind – I haven’t actually searched out the most risible stuff.

The … Read the rest



Mbeki Lashes Out at Tutu *

Dec 5th, 2004 | Filed by

Personal attack on Tutu, an icon second only to Mandela, showed how hostile to criticism Mbeki has become. … Read the rest



Iran Concerned About Human Rights in Europe *

Dec 5th, 2004 | Filed by

EU protested arrest and harassment of journalists, staff of NGOs, religious minorities.… Read the rest



Reformist Journalists in Iran Cite ‘Brainwashing’ *

Dec 5th, 2004 | Filed by

Go to prison, come out, issue retraction. Hmm.… Read the rest