‘From the age of 12 onwards I was basically not allowed to leave the house. I hated it.’… Read the rest
All entries by this author
Bless this carbolic to our use and us to thy person
Oct 24th, 2007 4:15 pm | By Ophelia BensonDang, I’m always falling behind in my saint-memorization. I don’t know who the saints are. I don’t even know who all those crazy saints all over California are! I haven’t got a clue. Saint Rose – who? Saint Clement? Saint Diego? Saint Joe? Saint fucking Barbara? I don’t know these people! I’ve heard of Saint Francis, I can deal with that all right, but all these other ones – I suspect some map-makers just took them out of the Oakland phone book one day. And I’d never heard of Padre Pio – I’m happy to say. Padre Pio, indeed; the very name makes the toes curl. Yuk.
And for good reason, it turns out; the guy flounced around the place … Read the rest
‘Saint’ Faked His Stigmata With Carbolic Acid 
Oct 24th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Except he was canonized by the pope, and the pope is infallible, so that can’t be right.… Read the rest
Teacher’s Murder Increases Fear in NW Pakistan
Oct 24th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘If such things can happen in broad daylight, then what safety is there for us teachers?’ asked Uzaira Afridi.… Read the rest
Congo’s Rape Fields Will Thrive
Oct 24th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
In Eastern DRC, it is easier to get raped or killed than jailed for breaking the law.… Read the rest
‘Return of the Muslim Other’
Oct 24th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Soumaya Ghannoushi is nostalgic for the ‘tradition of post-colonial studies and radical critique of Orientalism.’… Read the rest
Grayling on Public Duties v Religious Scruples
Oct 24th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
When individuals cannot allow their religious loyalties to be trumped by their public responsibilities, they should resign.… Read the rest
Those who Lived Under ‘Islamo-fascism’
Oct 24th, 2007 | By Marieme Hélie-LucasDear friends in WIB [Women in Black],
In response to the mail alerting us about this event against ‘Islamo
fascism’ led by conservative forces, I think there is a need for
clarification from us, who lived under ‘Islamo fascism’:
First of all, let me say that the term ‘Islamo fascism’ was initially
coined by Algerian people struggling for democracy, against armed
fundamentalist forces decimating people in our country, then later operating
in Europe, where a number of us had taken refuge.
For us, it has never been equated to Islam, but it points at fundamentalists
only: i.e. at political forces working under the cover of religion in order
to gain political power and to impose a theocracy (The Law – … Read the rest
Family Values American Values Family Family
Oct 23rd, 2007 4:39 pm | By Ophelia BensonOh look, Theocracy in America.
… Read the restA collection of major Religious Right groups is seeking to flex some muscle this weekend, screening Republican presidential hopefuls and demanding they show fealty to the fundamentalist political agenda. The so-called “Values Voter Summit” in Washington, D.C., is sponsored by the Family Research Council Action, Focus on the Family Action, the Alliance Defense Fund, American Family Association Action and Gary Bauer’s American Values group. Every major GOP presidential hopeful is slated to appear. “This may be the biggest collection of theocrats in one room since the Salem Witch Trials,” said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. “Their goal is simple: to consolidate their power
Funding for Creationism Dropped from Bill
Oct 23rd, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
More than 30 educational, scientific and religious groups joined forces to oppose the provision.… Read the rest
Religious Right Seeks To Muscle GOP
Oct 23rd, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘This may be the biggest collection of theocrats in one room since the Salem Witch Trials.’… Read the rest
Review of Robert Richardson’s William James
Oct 23rd, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
James’s modernity is too often lost in the fog of intellectual mannerisms that ‘read’ as late-Victorian.… Read the rest
Jesus and Mo Discuss Abortion
Oct 23rd, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Easy for them.… Read the rest
The Debate About Watson is Too Predictable
Oct 23rd, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
We have to unpick exactly what was objectionable in what he said and what was acceptable debate.… Read the rest
Bettina Aptheker’s Memoir and Memory
Oct 22nd, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
It raises questions about ‘recovered memory’ and how to evaluate it.… Read the rest
Anthony Kenny on his History of Philosophy
Oct 22nd, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Some interesting insights into the figures that have shaped the subject ranging from Plato to Derrida.… Read the rest
Nigel Warburton Interviews Tim Crane
Oct 22nd, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
How the mind relates to the body: how could a piece of soft tissue think and feel?… Read the rest
Prisoners’ Rights Activist Imprisoned
Oct 22nd, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Emadeddin Baghi was charged with ‘propaganda against the Islamic Republic.’… Read the rest
Public Executions in Iran: Dominance via Fear
Oct 22nd, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Almost all the executions have been public hangings. Videos of the process are then broadcast over the Net.… Read the rest
Wrested from the bitter reactionary grip of religion
Oct 21st, 2007 4:49 pm | By Ophelia BensonWe had a good time (I did anyway) with Roger Scruton’s review of Anthony Grayling’s new book, so now let’s have a different but related kind of good time with another look at Anthony Grayling’s review of John Gray’s latest book. I flagged it up here last month but it’s so relevant to the Scruton review that I feel like flagging it up again.
… Read the restNow let us ask whether secular Enlightenment values of pluralism, democracy, the rule of independently and impartially administered law, freedom of thought, enquiry and expression, and liberty of the individual conform to the model of a monolithic ideology such as Catholicism, Islam or Stalinism. Let us further ask how Gray imagines that these values
