Foreign minister explained: ‘Any foreigner who comes to criticize our country will be immediately expelled.’… Read the rest
All entries by this author
Palin Mocks Scientific Research 
Oct 25th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘Sometimes these dollars go to projects that have little or nothing to do with the public good. Things like fruit fly research in Paris, France. I kid you not.’… Read the rest
Simon Barrow Explains Mystery and Faith
Oct 25th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
No thoughtful Christian or Muslim thinks God is a person, he tells us. Really?… Read the rest
Most Atheists Mary Kenny Knows are Miserable
Oct 25th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
They’re so gloomy and depressing that even their funerals are no fun. Bastards.… Read the rest
Tauriq Moosa on Being an Ex-Muslim
Oct 24th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘I attended seven madrassas. At each one, I was physically abused by the jaded jackals of god’s word.’… Read the rest
From Burke to Palin
Oct 24th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Conservative writers find that the anti-intellectualism their side encouraged has begun to consume their movement.… Read the rest
Meera Nanda on the God Delusion in Action
Oct 24th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Something amiss in the way ‘modern’ Indians encounter the products of science with a medieval worldview.… Read the rest
Greenspan ‘Shocked’ to Find His Ideology Flawed
Oct 23rd, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Greenspan said he was in ‘a state of shocked disbelief’ about banks’ inability to regulate themselves. … Read the rest
Millennium Development Summit: No Women
Oct 23rd, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
24 speakers, every one a man. One of the Millennium Goals is gender equality. Oh well.… Read the rest
Is There a Clash of Civilizations?
Oct 23rd, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
CFI proposes an alternative to UN Alliance of Civilizations, one rooted in secular, liberal values.… Read the rest
Nesrine Malik on Death for Apostasy
Oct 23rd, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Death penalty not gratuitously applied; scholars differ; death threat evoked rarely; all okay then.… Read the rest
Center for Inquiry Joins Debate at UN HRC
Oct 23rd, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
CFI and IHEU sponsored a discussion on restrictions to free inquiry into religious matters at the HRC.… Read the rest
At the Seminar
Oct 23rd, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Diene: Freedom of Expression is politically instrumantalised to propagate racist platforms.… Read the rest
UN Seminar to Discuss Limits to Free Speech
Oct 23rd, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Pakistan, Algeria, Egypt, Indonesia and the OIC representative called for tighter restrictions.… Read the rest
Apostates are seldom killed; whew
Oct 23rd, 2008 11:02 am | By Ophelia BensonNesrine Malik lets us know that all this fuss about death for apostasy is silly.
Reading AC Grayling’s latest article and listening to the protestations of the Council of Ex-Muslims, you would think that the death penalty is being gratuitously and frequently applied to those who renounce Islam or harbour thoughts of apostasy.
Oh. So if the death penalty is being purposefully and seldom applied to those who renounce Islam, there would be no reason for a Council of Ex-Muslims to exist and no article for Anthony Grayling to write? The death penalty for renouncing Islam is a bad thing only if it’s applied gratuitously and frequently? A rare and cautious execution for renouncing Islam is all right?
… Read the restI
Thrasymachus and the Baptist ethicist
Oct 22nd, 2008 12:25 pm | By Ophelia BensonRonald Aronson answers Baptist Center for Ethics Executive Director Robert Parham who wrote an essay criticizing ‘the new atheists.’ He first addresses the fact that some atheists are blunter than believers have become used to expecting (and that irritation with this is at least understandable).
Why are these so harsh? Above all, each sees himself as breaking a taboo: Thou shalt not criticize religion…I for one am grateful for the space for discussion these writers, along with Dennett (certainly no angry professor) have opened up, and forgive them for not being calmer and more measured.
Same here. I think we badly need the space – and that the taboo in many (or perhaps most) circles, at least in the US, … Read the rest
Susan Neiman on Morality and Religion
Oct 22nd, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Whatever the source of moral judgment is, it isn’t divine authority.… Read the rest
The Atheist Bus Campaign
Oct 22nd, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
There’s probably no God; now stop worrying and enjoy your life. Any more fares please.… Read the rest
Higher Education in the US
Oct 22nd, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
A majority of the students whom colleges admit are grossly underprepared.… Read the rest
Review of ‘Philosophy and Real Politics’
Oct 22nd, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
To introduce a note of realism into philosophical debates about justice, by force if necessary.… Read the rest
