The Taliban are growing in popularity partly because the state is not functioning. … 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Inevitably links go out of date.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 Swat Valley Taliban 
Mar 28th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘Those promoting “enlightened moderation” are the agents of darkness,’ says Fazlullah.… Read the rest
Parvez Sharma’s Film ‘A Jihad for Love’
Mar 28th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Sharma doesn’t believe that the Iranian authorities are conducting an antigay witch-hunt.… Read the rest
Project to Inquire into Religion
Mar 28th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Experiments to look at the mental mechanisms needed to represent an omniscient deity.… Read the rest
Polly Toynbee on Selective ‘Conscience’
Mar 27th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Fundamental questions of who rules are raised if Catholic ministers get a special dispensation denied to other ministers. … Read the rest
Seumas Milne on Religion and Secularism
Mar 27th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Startling new thoughts on the wave of atheist books, atheists as fundamentalists, Dawchens.… Read the rest
Return of the ‘Framing’ Debate
Mar 27th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Nisbet tells Dawkins and Myers to ‘Lay [sic] low and let others do the talking.’… Read the rest
Campaigners Support Wakefield
Mar 27th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
BBC accuses medical experts of seeking to ‘discredit’ Wakefield’s ‘findings.’… Read the rest
Many Muslim Children Kept Out of School
Mar 27th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Hajra Bibi taken out of school at puberty; parents wanted her to cook for male relatives.… Read the rest
Richard Dawkins on ‘Lying for Jesus’
Mar 26th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Goals don’t come more own than this.… Read the rest
Girl Dies After Parents Fail to Get Medical Help
Mar 26th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
They prayed instead. She died after 30 days of nausea, vomiting, thirst, loss of appetite, weakness.… Read the rest
Important Not to Judge, Says Professor of Ethics
Mar 26th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘They believe they’re helping their child; they love their child, and they believe prayer has an effect.’… Read the rest
God Gave Us Physicians, Cleric Notes
Mar 26th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Rev. Ted Nelson said they did what’s best in their heart. Rev. Steve Brice respects anyone who follows their conscience.… Read the rest
Aaronovitch on Wicked Untruths from the Church
Mar 26th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
There is a growing unscrupulousness about the way some of the top faithful choose to conduct their arguments.… Read the rest
What Would Mill Advise on Wilders’s ‘Fitna’?
Mar 25th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The problem with the Wilders film is that we do not know whether the situation of the corn dealer applies.… Read the rest
Amsterdam Protest Against Wilders Film
Mar 25th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘The film has already been condemned by several Muslim countries, including Iran and Pakistan.’… Read the rest
Pick of Day: Ben Goldacre on Lifestyle Nutritionists
Mar 25th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
You’ll particularly enjoy the segment about John Harvey Kellogg, the enema-obsessed cornflake-inventor.… Read the rest
Bishops Deny Misleading the Public
Mar 25th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘If you stop obeying God you start to limit the rights of human beings and this is a case in point.’… Read the rest
Ben Goldacre on Hadacol
Mar 25th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Hadacol was made from B vitamins and alcohol in barrels behind the barn. It was a miracle.… Read the rest
‘Unscientific’ to Scorn ‘Complementary’ Medicine
Mar 25th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Madeleine Bunting goes all sciencey.… Read the rest
