Even better than he was expecting; a great read.
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Inevitably links go out of date.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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James Wood on A S Byatt
The author dances, with leaden slippers, around the thought-sleep of her characters.
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Michael Ruse on The Greatest Show on Earth
The eye is magnificent – we can read this wonderful book.
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Martha Nussbaum on Same-sex Marriage
There is something odd about the mixture of casualness and solemnity with which the state behaves as a marrying agent.
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Nina Power on the Inspiration of Postmodernism
So what can be salvaged from this weather-beaten set of ideas? As it turns out, quite a lot.
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Roger Scruton in Praise of Dogma
‘It could well be that religion is a better discipline than pop science, when it comes to shaping the rational intellect.’
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Danny Postel Replies to Scruton and Others
Feels less inclined to dispute those points than to ponder them and see if there might be something of value.
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The Speech Cops Knock on the Door
Citizen writes to council complaining about gay pride march, council tells police about ‘hate incident.’
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Ending the Silence on ‘Honour’ Killing
‘Sharia courts are letting Muslim women down and the British government is turning a blind eye.’
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Business as Usual for Vatican Enterprises Inc.
The Catholic Church is a giant multinational corporation, differing from rivals only in not paying taxes.
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Catholic Church a Force for Good, Yes or No
Hitchens and Fry v Widdecombe and Archbishop Onaiyekan. It was a rout.
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Simon Singh on Censorship by Libel Threat
Even academic journals receive libel threats. Even academics being interviewed have to fear libel.
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M Pigliucci on the Scope of Skeptical Inquiry
A scientific argument for atheism is outside the epistemological boundaries of science and a disservice to intellectual inquiry.
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Blackford on Pigliucci on Skeptical Inquiry
Scientists are entitled to reject claims that are presented as mere ad hoc manoeuvres to avoid falsification.
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Come on Over, Catholicism is Swell!
‘Yes, the church’s history is bloody and corrupt, but so is England’s.’ Just watch out for the sharks.
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Have ‘Atheist Fundamentalists’ Seized CFI?
Or is the claim just more name-calling and othering?
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Is Atheism Science or Philosophy?
If there were a giant reptile in Loch Ness, it ought to be possible to find it.
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Jesus and Mo Study Karen Armstrong
The barmaid doesn’t get the lesson.
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PZ Studies Karen Armstrong
Yes we all look for meaning; no we don’t all find it in religion.
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No Irony Meters in Pakistan, the Vatican
They’re haram, and they do too much damage when they explode.