Thou shalt not say that creationist textbooks are garbage.… Read the rest
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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
The Home-schoolers Respond 
Mar 7th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Some of it is ugly stuff.… Read the rest
Virginia: Public Colleges Cannot Ban Anti-gay Bias
Mar 7th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Most of the state’s public universities have policies prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation.… Read the rest
Russell Blackford on Gary Bouma on Secularists
Mar 6th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Contrary to Bouma, attempts to use political power to impose religious views are highly divisive.… Read the rest
Catholic School Expels Toddler: Parents are Gay
Mar 6th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Denver Archdiocese posted a statement: the parents are ‘living in open discord with Catholic teaching.’… Read the rest
Hitchens on the Ten Commandments
Mar 6th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
When you hear people demanding that the Ten Commandments be displayed, always ask which set.… Read the rest
Academic Challenges Priest’s Homophbic Rant
Mar 6th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘To justify its persecution of homosexual people the Catholic Church draws on just three brief texts.’… Read the rest
Liverpool Post on Airportoons Trial
Mar 6th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Chaplain was ‘insulted, deeply offended, alarmed, concerned.’ Oh well then, there’s no more to say!… Read the rest
Atheism is Illegitimate and Evil, Act LXXXVII
Mar 5th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Ken Miller is good. Atheists are bad.… Read the rest
No Venus de Milo for Rahway NJ, Thank You
Mar 5th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Neighbor complained of naked snow statue, police told sculptor to cover it up.… Read the rest
No Freedom of Expression for UK, Thank You
Mar 5th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Atheist convicted of ‘religiously aggravated intentional harassment’ for cartoons; maximum sentence 7 years in prison.… Read the rest
George Carey Says Politicians Bully Christians
Mar 5th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
It’s the other way around.… Read the rest
Atheists Are the Source of Conflict in Society
Mar 5th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Monash University Professor Gary Bouma says people without a specific faith fuel sectarian conflict.… Read the rest
What We Celebrate When We Mark March 8th
Mar 4th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Feminism has a compelling lens through which to understand marginalisation, as women have long occupied the margins.… Read the rest
Madrid: Israel Protests Anti-Semitic Postcards
Mar 4th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The Israeli embassy received postcards from schoolchildren accusing it of killing Palestinian babies.… Read the rest
Lawyers’ Fees in Libel Cases Reduced
Mar 4th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Scientists and journalists will be able to write in the public interest without giant legal bills.… Read the rest
The Origin of Atheism
Mar 4th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
If theistic belief comes naturally, then it is atheism that needs to be explained.… Read the rest
Teach the Controversy, on Everything
Mar 4th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
If somebody somewhere contradicts a scientific claim, that’s a controversy, so add it to the curriculum.… Read the rest
Douglas Murray on Homophobia in Mosques
Mar 4th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘Only in a mosque in Britain could routine hatred like this pass by unnoticed and largely unobjected to.’… Read the rest
Meera Nanda on ‘The God Market’
Mar 4th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Markets are said to be exorcising the demons of religiously inspired fanaticism, patriarchy and oppression.… Read the rest
