Meanwhile demands that religious groups should comply with equality provisions have intensified.… Read the rest
The odyssey
Jan 24th, 2010 4:58 pm | By Ophelia BensonJames Wood doesn’t think much of theodicy.
But even when intentions are the opposite of Mr. Robertson’s, and in a completely secular context, theological language has a way of hanging around earthquakes. In his speech after the catastrophe, President Obama movingly invoked “our common humanity,” and said that “we stand in solidarity with our neighbors to the south, knowing that but for the grace of God, there we go.” And there was God once again. Awkwardly, the literal meaning of Mr. Obama’s phrase is not so far from Pat Robertson’s hatefulness. Who, after all, would want to worship the kind of God whose “grace” protects Americans from Haitian horrors
Which is why I wish Obama would leave the goddy … Read the rest
Iraqi Interior Ministry Still Backs ‘Bomb Detector’ 
Jan 24th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Despite total lack of actual detection capability.… Read the rest
‘Religious Man’ Allowed to Commit Assault
Jan 24th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Cherie Booth let a guy who broke someone’s jaw in a fight to go free because he is ‘a religious man.’… Read the rest
Al-Qaeda Has Trained Female Suicide Bombers
Jan 24th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
They believe in gender equality.… Read the rest
Islamist Cleric to Tour UK Universities
Jan 24th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
He has described Jews as ‘monkeys and pigs’ and universities are ‘plural societies’ therefore…something.… Read the rest
Xians Vow to Get Culture Minister Out of Her Job
Jan 24th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
They say she is betraying Christ.… Read the rest
Homeopathy By Very Very Very Big Numbers
Jan 24th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
How much arnica is in Boots-brand 84 arnica homeopathic 30C Pills for £5.09?… Read the rest
The Theological Language of Punishment and Mercy
Jan 24th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Either God is punitive and interventionist, or as capricious as nature and so absent as to be effectively nonexistent.… Read the rest
Flashing lights, and a beeping noise
Jan 23rd, 2010 5:31 pm | By Ophelia BensonCall me sentimental but I do think this is a quotation for the ages. It’s from the guy who made the ‘bomb detector’ thingy out of an antenna and a hinge and a plastic tag, and sold lots of them for $40,000 each, and got arrested on suspicion of fraud for doing that.
We have been dealing with doubters for ten years. One of the problems we have is that the machine does look a little primitive. We are working on a new model that has flashing lights.
Do admit. The sunny innocence, the tenderly confiding honesty of that brings tears to the eyes, does it not? He sweetly admits there are ‘doubters’ – people not convinced that a … Read the rest
Obama Disputes Supreme Court Ruling
Jan 23rd, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Conservative majority said limits violated ‘corporations’ constitutional right to free speech.’… Read the rest
No More Jesus Rifles
Jan 23rd, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘It is not the policy of the Department of Defense to put religious references of any kind on its equipment.’… Read the rest
Paula Kirby on Suffering and Significance
Jan 23rd, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Theologians start with their desired answer – God is good! – then contort themselves to make the evidence fit.… Read the rest
McCormick Planned Improvements to ADE-651
Jan 23rd, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘The machine does look a little primitive. We are working on a new model that has flashing lights.’… Read the rest
150 Bodies Found in Nigeria After Religious Riots
Jan 23rd, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Many of the bodies found in Kuru Karama had massive burns, other victims were hacked to death or shot. … Read the rest
Phil Plait on the Arrest of Jim McCormick
Jan 23rd, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Say it twice: he has been arrested on suspicion of fraud. … Read the rest
Jim McCormack Arrested on Suspicion of Fraud
Jan 23rd, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Sold ‘bomb detectors’ to Iraq for $40,000 apiece.… Read the rest
Export Ban on Useless Bomb Detector
Jan 22nd, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Iraq paid $40,000 apiece for a device that contains a cheap electronicky tag-thing that detects nothing.… Read the rest
Jesus and Mo on Science and Religion
Jan 22nd, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Religious scientists do exist, as do pedophile priests. That’s simply a fact.… Read the rest
Nick Cohen on Chomsky
Jan 22nd, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Chomsky doesn’t seem to get the nature of clerical fascism.… Read the rest
