There is a tension between advocating something religion-neutral and a curriculum where one religion is privileged.
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Inevitably links go out of date.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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Martin Bright: Ken Livingstone is a Disgrace
Attempts by Mayor’s office to smear a brave anti-racism campaigner are a step too far.
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PZ Asks: What’s Your School Board Like?
Like the ones in Florida? Texas?
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CFI Austin on Science Education in Texas
Science standards are up for review this year; 7 out of 15 Board of Education members are creationists.
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Have Some Nice Sharia Law
‘Once, just only once, if an adulterer is stoned nobody is going to commit this crime at all.’ Yay.
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David Papineau Reads John Searle
He remains suspicious of the pretensions of philosophical argument to overturn everyday opinion.
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Dallas Cab Driver Accused of Killing Daughters
Yaser Abdel Said is accused of shooting 17-year-old Sarah Yaser Said and 18-year-old Amina Yaser Said.
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‘Honour’ Killing in Dallas?
Or just a bad mood?
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Men’s ‘Honour’ and Women’s Sexuality
‘When I challenged their double standards they gave cultural and religious reasons to justify their controlling and abusive behaviour.’
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Secularism Far Worse Than Terrorism
Chaplain to the Stock Exchange talks raving nonsense.
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Hani Ramadan Wins Compensation Payment
Geneva teacher, brother of Tariq, was fired for Le Monde opinion piece defending stoning.
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Turks Remember Hrant Dink
Thousands of people gathered in Istanbul to commemorate the murder with flowers and candles.
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Two Philosophers Feud Over a Book Review
The view from Cornell, The Philosophical Review’s home, is that the fuss is overblown.
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Ian McEwan on Atheism and Other Things
I think it is important that people with no religious beliefs speak up and speak for what they value.
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Creation Museum Sells Mastodon Skull
The skull is estimated to be 40,000 years old – but not of course by creationists.
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Front Page Interviews Azar Majedi
They disagree on quite a few points.
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RSF: Mullahs Call for Death Penalty for Journalist
Religious fundamentalists try to prevent any debate about Islam and the status of women.
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Anniversary of Murder of Hrant Dink
The victim of a state-endorsed nationalism that bans any mention of certain aspects of Turkish history.
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Mo Has a Cunning Plan
Tell the barmaid he’s offended. Yes but will she care? Poor Mo.
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Secular Coalition on House Resolution 888
HR 888 presents such a distorted version of US history that real education can’t possibly be its goal.