At the heart of Tory England lies a determination to use state controls they would normally condemn as “socialist” to protect property values.
Category: Latest News
Welcome to our archive of news stories relevant to the project of fighting fashionable nonsense. The stories are drawn from the electronic pages of the world’s media. On this page, you’ll find links to those stories that have been featured on Butterflies and Wheels during the current year. At the bottom of the page, you’ll find links to separate archives of stories from previous years.
We’re always pleased to hear about news stories that you think should be featured on Butterflies and Wheels. Just send an email here, if you want to point one out to us.
A note about links
Inevitably links go out of date. We suggest, therefore, that you make hard-copies of the stories that particularly interest you.
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Michael Ruse on “the new atheists” #6429
They’re mad at me, which is baffling when I’m so swell; I will continue to carp no matter what they say about me, I’m that brave; they are immoral.
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A fun event for Lewisham Islamic Centre
A speaker by video link from Saudi Arabia who says it’s “permissible” to rape female prisoners of war. Pass the popcorn.
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Giles Fraser on giving up thinking for Lent
Don’t understand why a loving god throws tsunamis at people? Give up asking questions as a Lenten discipline.
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Scientology is “a difficult organization to leave”
“Everybody watches everybody. All the bases have a perimeter of some form, and they are locked, wired and under surveillance.”
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Vatican explains rules for engagement with atheists
The conversations should resemble not a “duel” but a “duet,” with believers and non-believers offering complementary ideas and helping each other to refine their views.
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Michael Ruse kicks the “new” atheists some more
Also says something or other about the problem of evil, and Giberson and Collins, but gnu-kicking is the real game.
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Killer argument against “new” atheism
How many Democrats have “new” atheists helped elect in the US? None that the reviewer knows of. Answer that, smarty pants!
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Many voices of disbelief
Jerry Coyne asks readers: why are you an atheist? Does it have anything to do with a lack of evidence for god, or are there other factors involved?
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ECHR to atheists and non-Xians: tough
The Vatican hailed the court’s decision as “historic.” Head of the German Bishops’ Conference said the majority is always right.
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School crucifixes ‘do not breach human rights’
So suck it up, atheists, Jews, Muslims, Sikhs, Hindus, deists, Zoroastrians, Buddhists, secularists.
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ECHR rules: no secularism for public schools
The European Court of Human Rights ruled Friday that crucifixes are acceptable in public school classrooms; its decision will be binding in 47 countries.
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Marc Alan Di Martino on bogus Judeo-Christian roots
“Judeo-Christian” lets the pope sound ecumenical to the uninitiated. Don’t be fooled.
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Jesus and Mo on taking the Koran out of context
And on putting it in context. Both can be bad – it depends on the context.
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CFI and IHEU collaborate to oppose blasphemy laws
This week the Center for Inquiry joined the International Humanist and Ethical Union in opposing blasphemy laws at a meeting of the UN HCR.
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Imam sues Telegraph over “extremist” claim
Yahya Ibrahim says he is a moderate teacher committed to religious tolerance, denies he holds radical views, and is opposed to violence.
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Malaysia: Xian lawyer barred from sharia courts
She wanted to appear for non-Muslim clients fighting in such courts. An increasing number of cases involve both Muslims and non-Muslims.
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Guardian interviews Tim Flannery
“For 20 years after his return from the Beagle voyage, [Darwin] sat on what he knew were astonishing discoveries.” That’s a myth.
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“The Evolution and Theology of Cooperation”
And other treats.
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Can the brain explain your mind?
Is thinking what the brain does in the way that walking is what the body does? Colin McGinn asks.
