Ministers should be denied the power to fire advisers who publicly disagree with official policy.
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Inevitably links go out of date.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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Putting God Out of the Ethics Business
When we act ethically, our reasons are usually nothing transcendental, just respect and compassion for others.
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Wendy Grossman on Climate Change as ‘Belief’
Making issues that should be settled on the scientific evidence into philosophical discussions is nothing new.
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The New Theists
Having lost the power of the gun, apologists of religion have a new weapon: being offended.
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Baseej Women Beaters
This is what they do in public, just imagine what they do inside the prisons.
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Ibn Warraq on Muslim Reformers
There are some, and they risk their lives. Here is the first of three Kuwaiti secularists.
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Jesus and Mo Are Worried About Scientology
In the information age, religions can no longer hide the failings of their founders. Uh oh.
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AN Wilson Explains About Science
‘The worship of science is the great superstition of our age.’
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Seth Kalichman: How to Spot an Aids Denialist
Denialism uses rhetorical tactics to give the impression of a legitimate debate among experts.
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European Court Rules Crucifex is Religious
Not a bit, says Vatican, it’s a symbol of unity and welcoming for all of humanity.
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Atheism Itself is not a Movement
My contribution to the CisF question about an atheist schism.
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Catholic Vice-chancellor on Infestation of Atheists
Unwelcome and unlovely, here in bulk, a plague, reminiscent of blowflies, likely to piss themselves.
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Austin Dacey Asks: Why Replace Religion?
The social space vacated by religion could be filled by a patchwork of independent institutions.
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Austin Dacey on Atheism 3.0
Today we should ask, what is the proper context of the current conversation about atheism and religion?
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Azerbaijan: Government Closes Some Mosques
In adopting new law on religion, Azerbaijan says it has had to react to the growing threat of Wahhabism.
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We All Hates Them Bad Atheists
‘The New Atheist movement is being led by several egomaniac intolerant fundamentalists.’
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Climate Change Is a Legally Protected Belief
‘Capable, if genuinely held, of being a philosophical belief for the purpose of the 2003 Religion and Belief Regulations.’
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Michael Ruse Scolds The Atheists
He’s not quite as careful as he might be…
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Coyne Reads Ruse
Spots a problem or two.
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Coyne on Sullivan on Scientology
He’s right that Scientology is absurd, but…there’s another thing…