Those of us without religion must defer to those with; antitheists must hush lest we ’cause offence.’… 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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
Communicating Science in a Religious America 
Sep 17th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Matthew Nisbet picks another fight with ‘the New Atheists.’ Cites Paul Kurtz as predecessor. Eh?… Read the rest
PZ on Why ‘Framing’ is a Dud Idea
Sep 17th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
We can gain some quick policy advantages at the price of privileging flawed thinking. … Read the rest
India’s Culture Minister Offers to Resign
Sep 16th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Two directors of the Archaeological Survey of India, which presented report on ‘Ram,’ have been suspended.… Read the rest
Black Children Left Out of Irish Schools
Sep 16th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Church runs 98% of schools; law permits them to require certificate of baptism; the job is done.… Read the rest
Bishop: Muslim ‘Apostates’ Risk Being Killed
Sep 16th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
A poll found that 36% of Muslims age 16 to 24 believe those who convert should be punished by death.… Read the rest
Islamist Puts Out Hit on Cartoonist and Editor
Sep 16th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Abu Omar al-Baghdadi offered $100 k for murder of Swedish cartoonist and $50 k for editor. … Read the rest
Women in Saudi Arabia Push Back
Sep 16th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Women require a male guardian’s permission to do most things.… Read the rest
More on Wajeha al-Huwaider
Sep 16th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Saudi government harasses and silences women’s rights activist al-Huwaider.… Read the rest
Padraig Reidy on the True Cost of Libel Law
Sep 15th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
CUP said it would pulp all unsold copies of the book, and wanted to pulp all library copies.… Read the rest
A C Grayling Reviews John Gray
Sep 15th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Everything is a religion: Torquemada’s Catholicism, empiricism, liberalism, Stalinism.… Read the rest
Placebo Good, Bad Advice not so Good
Sep 15th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Homeopaths would be fine, if they could just shut up about serious stuff, like Aids, malaria, and MMR.… Read the rest
Ben Goldacre Chats With Homeopath
Sep 15th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
He hoped for insights into philosophical aspects of the meaning of evidence in homeopathy.… Read the rest
How to Use Religion to Exploit Women
Sep 15th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Tell them they ‘forfeit their chance at the afterlife’ if they disobey.… Read the rest
Sam Harris Responds to Jonathan Haidt
Sep 14th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Religion is the only discourse that encourages adults to pretend to know things they do not know.… Read the rest
More Boilerplate on the ‘New Atheism’
Sep 14th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Religion simply isn’t about facts, so shut up.… Read the rest
Schools Course on ‘Islamophobia’
Sep 14th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
“‘Islam’ means ‘peace’, and if you read the Qur’an it has a message of peace on almost every page.”… Read the rest
Evidence-based Report on ‘Ram’ Withdrawn
Sep 14th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Government and Archaeological Survey said there was no scientific evidence that Ram was real.… Read the rest
PZ Myers on Haidt on Morality and Religion
Sep 13th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Haidt makes important questions vanish by simply equating religion with moral systems.… Read the rest
Atheist Group Protests Censorship
Sep 13th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
RC League for Religious and Civil Rights fussed about Kathy Griffin’s refusal to thank Jesus.… Read the rest
