Is it possible to report accurately despite opinions?… Read the rest
Bangladesh: girl given 101 lashes for being raped
Jun 25th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonThe village elders pardoned the rapist.… Read the rest
Ratzinger v Belgium
Jun 25th, 2010 1:19 pm | By Ophelia BensonThe pope is pissed off because Belgian police are investigating Belgian citizens over allegations of crimes against other Belgian citizens (who were underage at the time) along with concealment and perpetuation of those crimes. What business, exactly, does the pope have being pissed off about this? He is the head of the organization the suspects work for, but so what?
The Vatican has expressed shock at raids, including the “violation” of a cathedral crypt, by Belgian police investigating alleged child sex abuse.
Well that’s typical, isn’t it – they’re “shocked” about the “violation” of a crypt – an inanimate object – when they were never all that shocked about the repeated violation of living breathing feeling human beings at their … Read the rest
Helping
Jun 25th, 2010 12:57 pm | By Ophelia BensonHey – want to do something? Want to make a difference? Want to make all the horrid oil in the gulf turn into nice healthy salt water and plankton and plastic water bottles? You can do all that. Deepak Chopra and Jean Houston and all those people will show you the way.
First step is tomorrow, 10 a.m. where I am, whatever time it is where you are. That’s Setting Our Sacred Intention time.
… Read the restWe begin by setting our collective intention. Join Deepak Chopra to set our powerful vision and participate in a worldwide Intention Experiment with renowned author and journalist Lynne McTaggart. Explore how our collective intention, our voice and our commitment can impact the cleanup of the
Join The Gulf Call to Sacred Action
Jun 25th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonOur collective prayers and thoughts have the power to cause a profound shift on the planet. Srsly.… Read the rest
Frontline on vaccine alarmism
Jun 25th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonBad thinking, pseudoscience, batshit craziness.… Read the rest
That Rolling Stone article
Jun 25th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonGeneral seems unaware that the US has civilian government.… Read the rest
Supreme Court versus anti-corruption law
Jun 25th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonRuled that the concept of committing fraud through depriving an employer of “honest services” was not adequately defined in the law. … Read the rest
Mayor of Leicester stands by prayer decision
Jun 25th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia Benson“Saying prayers for a particular religion before council meetings was not inclusive.”… Read the rest
Ratzinger “indignant” about Belgian law enforcement
Jun 25th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia Benson“The Vatican has summoned the Belgian ambassador to the Holy See to voice anger over Thursday’s raids.”… Read the rest
Saudis sentenced to lashes, prison for “mingling”
Jun 24th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia Benson4 women, 11 men got lashes and one to two years in prison for attending a party.… Read the rest
Put your hands out where I can see them
Jun 24th, 2010 5:37 pm | By Ophelia BensonBelgian authorities heightened pressure on the Roman Catholic Church in a sex-abuse scandal on Thursday, raiding the Belgian church headquarters, the home of a former archbishop and the offices of a commission established by the church to handle abuse complaints.
Police arrived at the church headquarters, the palace of the archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels, on Thursday morning while the monthly bishops meeting was in progress, a church spokesman said, questioning all of those present, from bishops down to staff members such as cooks and drivers.
Now that’s more like it. That sounds as if someone actually realizes that raping children is a crime, and not a little foible that can be gently discouraged by one’s colleagues without anyone’s hair having to … Read the rest
More on Belgian police raid on bishops
Jun 24th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonCops arrived at headquarters during the monthly bishops’ meeting and started questioning everyone. Everyone.… Read the rest
Secular Coalition for America Opposes Kagan for Supreme Court
Jun 24th, 2010 | By Secular Coalition of AmericaJustice John Paul Stevens has been a historic champion of our constitutional separation of church and state. He has consistently sought to strike down special privileges for religion and its impositions on the rights of others. President Obama’s choice to replace him, Solicitor General Elena Kagan, does not appear to embrace the fundamental American principle of church-state separation with the vigor and force of Justice John Paul Stevens. This conclusion is based on the evidence that has come to light since her nomination to the United States Supreme Court.
Indeed, in at least one instance, Ms. Kagan appears to directly rebuff the church-state jurisprudence of Justice Stevens.
Thus, Secular Coalition for America opposes Ms. Kagan’s nomination until she makes her … Read the rest
The hermeneutic auction
Jun 24th, 2010 12:18 pm | By Ophelia BensonFirst there’s Daniel Harrell’s essay for BioLogos explaining that Adam and Eve were really truly. The introduction (perhaps written by someone else – it’s not clear) says “science does not rule out the possibility of a historical Adam and Eve.” Wull, yes it does. A historical woman and man who were the only humans on the planet and lived about 4 6 thousand years ago? Yes it does. So does history.
Anyway, Harrell explains that we can decide that Eve and Adam were really truly in a different way from being created all of a sudden by god and then filled up with fake DNA to trick everyone.
… Read the restCan we use “formed” and “breathed” to mean created through the
Dawkins and BioLogos’s Darrel Falk
Jun 24th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonIt’s a misunderstanding. No it isn’t.… Read the rest
Stephen Law on playing the mystery card
Jun 24th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia Benson“We must acknowledge that science and reason have their limits. It is sheer arrogance to suppose they can explain everything.” … Read the rest
Germany: Jewish dance group stoned
Jun 24th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonPolice said several Muslim immigrant youths were among the attackers; some shouted “Juden Raus.”… Read the rest
Cops raid headquarters of Belgian Catholic Church
Jun 24th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonThe archbishop’s palace has been sealed; a retired archbishop’s computer has been seized.… Read the rest
Jerry Coyne on natural selection in humans
Jun 24th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonThere is evidence – not conclusive, but suggestive – that it happens.… Read the rest