Are Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens a good thing for humanism?… Read the rest
All entries by this author
Peter Tatchell on Indifference to Human Rights 
Sep 21st, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Palestinian Arabs get the support of progressives; Iranian Arabs swing from nooses in public squares.… Read the rest
Mary Midgley Still Misunderstanding Dawkins
Sep 21st, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
One crude mistake after another.… Read the rest
There is no Atheist Pope
Sep 21st, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘New Atheism’ isn’t all that new, either.… Read the rest
Why should the criticism of religion provoke such an outcry?
Sep 20th, 2007 1:27 pm | By Ophelia BensonAs we saw, Matthew Nisbet cites Paul Kurtz as someone whose lead he is following when he says things like ‘Messages must be positive and respect diversity…[M]any scientists not only fail to think strategically about how to communicate on evolution, but belittle and insult others’ religious beliefs.’ A helpful commenter on his Kurtz post pointed out a recent editorial by Kurtz in Free Inquiry – from the February/March 2007 issue, it was.
… Read the restThe fact that books by Dawkins and Harris have made it to The New York Times best-seller list has apparently sent chills down the spines of many commentators; not only conservative religionists but also some otherwise liberal secularists are worried about this unexpected development. We note that the
Mo Says the Cartoon is Nothing Like Him
Sep 20th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
If people are going to commit blasphemy by portraying him, they should at least do a decent job of it.… Read the rest
Cardinal Wants Stem Cell Researchers Punished
Sep 20th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Scientists who engage in stem cell research using human embryos should be excommunicated.… Read the rest
Kian Tajbakhsh Released from Evin Prison
Sep 20th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Iranian government accused Tajbakhsh of spying and trying to help organise a ‘velvet revolution.’… Read the rest
Are ‘Evangelical Atheists’ Too Outspoken?
Sep 20th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘What disturbs us is the preposterous outcry that atheists have gone too far in their criticism of religion.’… Read the rest
Christianity’s War on Women
Sep 20th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
This is why AI is pro-abortion – the unnecessary deaths of thousands upon thousands of women. … Read the rest
Some affirmations
Sep 19th, 2007 12:27 pm | By Ophelia BensonAs we saw, Nisbet quotes Paul Kurtz on the need to be for things as well as against things. ‘It is what you are for that counts, not what you are against!’ I agree with that – and I’ll tell you some of the things I’m for.
I’m for free inquiry – open, fearless, unashamed, uninhibited inquiry. That means inquiry that is not expected to be deferential to majority opinion or belief; inquiry that follows the evidence wherever it goes without worrying about what the neighbours or bosses or ‘moderate believers’ will think.
I’m for telling the truth, on the whole, especially in public discourse. (That means no, I’m not for telling people they’re ugly or boring or fat … Read the rest
Which Century is This?
Sep 19th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Advances in knowledge are not enough to dispel the primitive impulse to look skyward for signs and portents.… Read the rest
Ernst Tugendhat on Certainty
Sep 19th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The desire to be on sure ground is the relict of an authoritarian frame of mind. … Read the rest
Bangladesh Authorities Arrest Cartoonist
Sep 19th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
A Home Ministry statement said Arifur Rahman’s sketches ‘hurt the religious sentiments of the people.’… Read the rest
Erdogan Urges End to Hijab Ban
Sep 19th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The PM’s Islamist-rooted AK Party began drafting a new constitution after its election in July.… Read the rest
Olivia Judson on Altruism
Sep 18th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Examples of selflessness can be found throughout the animal kingdom; why?… Read the rest
Nebraska State Senator Sues God
Sep 18th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Lawsuit admits God goes by many aliases, names, titles and designations; also notes defendant is ‘Omnipresent’.… Read the rest
Gen-X humanism for the Passionately Confused
Sep 18th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
R. Joseph Hoffmann says Epstein has abused his links to Harvard ‘as a shortcut to the legitimacy he craves.’… Read the rest
Matthew Nisbet on Paul Kurtz on ‘New Atheism’
Sep 18th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
No mention of ‘the Atheist Noise Machine’ though.… Read the rest
Saudi Women Challenge Driving Ban
Sep 18th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Conservatives argue that if women are allowed to drive, they will be able to mix freely with men. … Read the rest
