Hear seven experts briefly describe the essence of science and how it differs from religion; more.… 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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
Why Pigs Don’t Have Wings 
Nov 14th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Jerry Coyne, Philip Kitcher, Daniel Dennett take issue with Jerry Fodor on natural selection.… Read the rest
Evangelism in the US Military
Nov 14th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Chaplain ‘suggested’ cadets tell tent mates they would burn in hell if they did not receive Jesus as savior.… Read the rest
‘Teach the Controversy!’
Nov 14th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Like bacteria adapting to antibiotics, creationism has slimmed down again, shedding mention of ID.… Read the rest
Onward Science Soldiers
Nov 14th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Religious assertions about the natural world have no special immunity from the cold light of critical analysis.… Read the rest
Report From the Secularism Conference
Nov 13th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Jacoby, Hecht, Goldstein, Dawkins, Tyson, Druyan, Kaminer, Goldberg, Tabash, Stenger.… Read the rest
The Secular Society and its Enemies
Nov 13th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Susan Jacoby wonders why US media pay so little attention to serious secular and political thought.… Read the rest
Onward Christian Teachers?
Nov 13th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
A C Grayling on the influence of Christianity on teacher education and thus education in general.… Read the rest
Maori Priest Shocked by Exorcism Death
Nov 13th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
You have to be very careful, he notes.… Read the rest
Busted for Offending Royal Family
Nov 13th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Slandering or defaming the Spanish royal family can carry a sentence of up to two years in prison.… Read the rest
Scientists Do Succumb to Groupthink
Nov 13th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Scientific pronouncements should begin: ‘At our present level of ignorance, we think we know…’ … Read the rest
Clarence Thomas Fumes at ‘Élites’
Nov 12th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Throughout his judicial career Thomas has, in the name of anti-élitism, shown great solicitude for actual élites.… Read the rest
A Chat With Simon Blackburn
Nov 12th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘I don’t think of myself as diluting philosophy, rather I’m bringing more people to it.’… Read the rest
Najam Sethi, Editor of Pakistan’s Daily Times
Nov 12th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
As long as you are in charge of the Army, the Army obeys you. You can be extremely unpopular and still rule.… Read the rest
‘On the Media’ on Gujarat and Tehelka
Nov 12th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Asks the wrong questions, but interesting.… Read the rest
Clarence Thomas’s Memoir is a Howl of Rage
Nov 12th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Beyond belief that Thomas’s success owes nothing to the affirmative action he has come to despise.
.… Read the rest
The Home Office on Hate Crime
Nov 11th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Lots of hate crime, lots of perps, lots of new laws, lots of ways to report, lots of support, lots of everything.… Read the rest
The Crude Dualism of Popular Culture
Nov 11th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Medicine is portrayed in mainstream media as crudely biomechanical, Ben Goldacre notes.… Read the rest
Laws Against Hatred Not Such a Good Idea
Nov 11th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Any incident perceived by the victim or any other person as motivated by hate is a hate crime. Hmm.… Read the rest
Jesus and Mo Discuss Blood Atonement
Nov 11th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Mo thinks it’s sick.… Read the rest
