Asks four questions to test whether Book of Mormon is a fake. ‘Seriously, gold plates, Moroni?’… Read the rest
All entries by this author
Catholic Group Working to Repeal Blasphemy Law 
Aug 26th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
In Pakistan, where Christians are a minority subject to persecution. In Ireland, on the other hand…… Read the rest
Venezuela: Catholic Church Meddling in Politics
Aug 26th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Venezuela’s bishops oppose new education law because it promotes secular education.… Read the rest
Nesrine Malik Finds Feminism Patronizing
Aug 26th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Western feminists must learn to understand the burqa.… Read the rest
Belief in a God That Makes No Difference
Aug 26th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
There may not be any compelling reason to believe that such a being exists, but the question is intelligible.… Read the rest
Irish Church Paying Price for Clerical Dominance
Aug 26th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The Ryan report was horrendous; the effect on the morale and reputation of the church and Ireland, devastating.… Read the rest
Mr Faulks? Could we have a word?
Aug 25th, 2009 5:16 pm | By Ophelia BensonThe Telegraph, with slightly cruel mockery, has poor Sebastian Faulkes saying in the headline that he really can’t put down the Koran – giving us the irresistible impression that he can’t put it down because he has been wired to explode if he does.
While we Judaeo-Christians can take a lot of verbal rough-and-tumble about our human-written scriptures, I know that to Muslims the Koran is different; it is by definition beyond criticism. And if anything I said or was quoted as saying (not always the same thing) offended any Muslim sensibility, I do apologise – and without reservation.
Well there you go. Some people (though not all ‘Judaeo-Christians,’ whatever the hell they are) can put up with criticism and … Read the rest
Quackometer on the Society of Homeopaths
Aug 25th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Those studies they cite? Take a closer look.… Read the rest
Mediawatchwatch on Sebastian Faulks
Aug 25th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Did Faulks cave in to threats, or is he merely offering a pre-emptive apology in advance of them?… Read the rest
Excerpt From Dawkins’s ‘Greatest Show on Earth’
Aug 25th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
With bizarro Times headline worthy of Glen Beck.… Read the rest
Sebastian Faulks Says the Koran is Terrific
Aug 25th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Really – he loves it – he read Karen Armstrong for his research – he wouldn’t dream of offending.… Read the rest
Sebastian Faulks Not Totally Smitten With Koran
Aug 25th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Has ‘courted controversy’ by saying so.… Read the rest
A few last pops from the shut up wars
Aug 24th, 2009 6:23 pm | By Ophelia BensonI find this quite funny – The Smiling Ones, apparently pleased by the reception of that LA Times article, have offered it up all over again, this time at Comment is Free. What’s funny about it is that the comments are scathing. This line is not working for them.
Just one sample out of many:
… Read the restI’m amazed by the sheer hostility shown by the Guardian to the “New Atheists”. I don’t agree with everything Dawkins says but I would rate him well above pseudo- intellectuals such as Karen Armstrong and her laughable thesis that religion is about practice rather than belief (contradicted by the Nicene Creed). However the Guardian prefers the “spiritual” Armstrong over the rational Dawkins. Now
Jerry Coyne on Robert Wright’s Pirouetting
Aug 24th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
If only scientists would ‘accept’ just a few tiny beliefs, everybody could get along.… Read the rest
The Daughter Deficit
Aug 24th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
In China and India girls are more likely to be missing in richer areas than in poorer ones, in cities than in rural areas. … Read the rest
No Grand Bargain Between Evolution and Theism
Aug 24th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
It doesn’t follow that because organisms in nature have purposes, nature as a whole has a purpose.… Read the rest
They Want Us to Be Stupid Things
Aug 24th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The Mirwais Mena School closed after the acid attacks, but only for a week. Nearly all the girls returned.… Read the rest
Kristof and WuDunn on Unsubordinating Women
Aug 24th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The world is awakening to a powerful truth: Women and girls aren’t the problem; they’re the solution.… Read the rest
NY Times Magazine on Global Women’s Rights
Aug 24th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Why women’s rights are the cause of our time.… Read the rest
Alun Salt on the Politics of Accommodation
Aug 24th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Van Houtan and Pimm do not argue that all the public should be treated as if they’re in the remedial class.… Read the rest
