Over 8,000 women raped last year by fighters in DR Congo; LRA killed 849 civilians, abducted 1,486.… Read the rest
DR Congo: Girls Less Likely to be Freed 
Feb 13th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘Used as combatants, labour and sex slaves, girls are rarely freed by the armed forces and groups.’… Read the rest
A Religious but not Righteous Judge
Feb 13th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
AC Grayling on special lenience for criminals who are religious.… Read the rest
Islam’s Black Dog
Feb 13th, 2010 | By R Joseph HoffmannThe tragedy at Fort Hood, Texas, and the near miss by underwear bomber, Umar Abdulmutallab, are being analyzed by the chattering classes as a failure of intelligence. In one sense, that’s right.
The army psychiatrist charged with the murders is seen as a closet terrorist whose deployment orders drove him over some psychological edge. He has a record, we’re told, of being argumentative, self-righteous about his religion, unwilling or unable to locate his religious ideas in any context that would limit their effect, and devoted to the jihadist philosophy of the Yemeni cleric Anwar al Awlaki.
Umar Abdulmutallab on the other hand is a sad instance of a privileged upbringing in which fundamental personal and educational questions went unresolved. It … Read the rest
Gravity, light and time are all manifestations of God’s love.
Feb 12th, 2010 1:00 pm | By Ophelia BensonThe C of E angling for a Templeton Prize. I’m not sure they’re eligible, but maybe they can manage a grant.
The Church of England’s ruling council has passed a motion calling on Church leaders to emphasise the compatibility of belief in both God and science. The motion urges the Church to fight back in what is the latest move in a battle between atheists and believers. The motion at the general synod in London was proposed by Dr Peter Capon. He believes atheists are forcing the public to choose either belief in God or the logic of science in a bid to push religion out of the public sphere.
Let’s see…atheists aren’t forcing anyone to do anything – … Read the rest
Vicar Tells Women to Submit to Husbands
Feb 12th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Wives are to submit to husbands in everything cos husbands are head of family as Christ is head of church.… Read the rest
Kenya: Police Arrest 5 Men for Being ‘Gay’
Feb 12th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Kenyan gay rights organisation condemned the arrests; Christian and Muslim clerics threw usual fit.… Read the rest
Jesus and Mo Resort to Kuhnian Paradigms
Feb 12th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
It’s a question of differing epistemological frameworks, you see.… Read the rest
God and Science Are Too So Compatible!
Feb 12th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Dr Capon says atheists mislead the public when they claim science and religion are incompatible.… Read the rest
Pets Left Behind
Feb 12th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
When the Rapture comes, what happens to Mittens and Spot? They go to live with the atheists.… Read the rest
I wouldn’t fit in at all
Feb 11th, 2010 1:44 pm | By Ophelia BensonJohn Shook argues that morality evolved long before religion did, which seems right, but then he claims more.
If you were suddenly plucked from your life and sent back in time to live with people in Indonesia about 15,000 years ago (or even Ethiopia 150,000 years ago), you would be able to figure out what is going on. The basic social roles, responsibilities, and civil rules would seem somewhat familiar to you, and you’d fit in pretty fast.
Oh no I wouldn’t – not fit in pretty fast I wouldn’t. I might be able to figure out what is going on, but I would also want no part of it. I would want no part of the social roles … Read the rest
UN Appeals for Donations for Haiti’s Schools
Feb 11th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Of some 1,500 schools visited in the worst hit areas of Haiti, only 85 had escaped severe damage.… Read the rest
Norway: Dagbladet Refuses to Apologize to Imam
Feb 11th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Norwegian flags are already on fire in Pakistan.… Read the rest
Iran: Basji Militia Blocking Protesters
Feb 11th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Security forces are armed with tear gas, live rounds, and paint balls to mark protesters. … Read the rest
UNESCO Reports Rise in Attacks on Schools
Feb 11th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Motives include preventing the education of girls and silencing human rights defenders.… Read the rest
Joan Smith on Amnesty and Moazzam Begg
Feb 11th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The Taliban isn’t a little bit misguided about women’s rights. Amnesty should keep its distance. … Read the rest
Religion and science are like totally the same
Feb 10th, 2010 5:51 pm | By Ophelia BensonMark Vernon has his own special brand of wool. I do not admire it. It is too unctuous.
Is science closer to religion than is typically assumed? Is religion closer to science? Might rational enquiry, based on evidence, share similarities with faith? These questions were raised by Charles Taylor, the distinguished Canadian philosopher, speaking at a Cambridge University symposium (pdf). He suspects that in the modern world we’ve bought into an illusion, one that posits a radical split between reason and revelation. Today, given the tension and violence that arises from misunderstandings about both, is a good time to examine them again.
It is annoying, and unctuous, that Vernon doesn’t mention that that ‘symposium’ was sponsored by the … Read the rest
Rahila Gupta on Amnesty’s Double Standard
Feb 10th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
AI has betrayed its own history and all of us who looked to it as a champion of human rights.… Read the rest
Sinister Developments in Haiti Missionaries Case
Feb 10th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Maybe the ‘ambitious plans for an orphanage with resort facilities’ should have rung alarm bells.… Read the rest
Another ‘Bus Driver Stops to Pray’ Story
Feb 10th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
For real? This actually happened?… Read the rest
