‘Today is the day when the forces of superstition will try to cut off any further debate.’
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Inevitably links go out of date.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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Poland Bans Some TV Ads During Pope’s Visit
Alcohol, underwear, contraceptives (well duh), and – sanitary towels? Because…?
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Dave Hill on Identity
While identity politics can be a rational response to oppression they can also be deeply reactionary.
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Scott McLemee on Pierre Rosanvallon
Neither giving two cheers for democracy, nor calling for more of it; what does that leave a philosopher to do?
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Janet Afary, Juan Cole on Jahanbegloo Arrest
MESA and ISIS express concern in letter to Khamenei.
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Worries Over Torture, Forced ‘Confession’
Jahanbegloo accused of relations with foreigners.
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Friends and Colleagues Sign Letter
‘Very anxious about the fate of our friend, we urge his immediate release.’
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Official Wants Da Vinci Movie Banned
Coz it’s blasphemous.
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Should Bristol Apologize? If So, to Whom?
Perhaps the apology floats in a vacuum and doesn’t need anyone to receive it.
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Baggini Misunderstands Sin Shock-horror
If humans are made by God, rational animal’s happiness involves conformity to God’s will. Big if.
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Equality Minister, Opus Dei, Gay Rights
Is there a problem?
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Opus Dei Synonymous With Homophobia
Has not shaken off rumours of brainwashing, homophobia, murky political influence.
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Baggini Asks: Wot is Sin?
Aristotle thought of good and bad with no reference to God’s will.
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Baggini Guardian Takeover
Do you mistrust the government or the media more?
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‘Vatican Astronomer’ on Creationism as Paganism
Said the idea of papal infallibility had been a PR disaster.
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Review of Frederick Crews on Fuzzy Ideas
Essays informed by the same hostility to woolly, untested thinking that drives Crews’ writing on Freud.
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‘Faith’ Schools and Gender Inequality
Can educational parity be squared with religions that traditionally subjugate women?
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‘Devout’ Christian Dies During Fast
Died ‘devoting herself to the Lord’ because of her ‘strict’ and ‘strong’ Christian beliefs.
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Iran Confirms Arrest of Jahanbegloo
Authorities cite charges of ‘contacts with foreigners, including the Monarchists’.
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Radio Free Europe Interview With Jahanbegloo
‘The fourth generation is very attached to democracy and pluralism and has a global view.’