The therapeutic ethos is not antithetical to a deep yearning for authority.… Read the rest
All entries by this author
Dawkins on the Aftermath of ‘Root of all Evil?’ 
Feb 2nd, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Faith is pernicious because it teaches that believing something without evidence is a virtue. … Read the rest
Guys With Guns Continue Tantrum
Feb 2nd, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Threat threat threat, demand demand demand, gun gun gun.… Read the rest
Richard Wolin’s The Seduction of Unreason
Feb 2nd, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Stanley Rosen says Wolin is not good at taking seriously the people he dislikes.… Read the rest
A Fish Called Allah
Feb 2nd, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Deity reveals self by writing own name on a fish in Waterfoot, near Bury.… Read the rest
Maryam Namazie Starts a Blog
Feb 2nd, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
No prizes for guessing her opinion of the cartoon tantrum.… Read the rest
Writers and Comedians Rejoice
Feb 2nd, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Rowan Atkinson, Salman Rushdie, Philip Pullman, Hanif Kureishi cheer Commons vote.… Read the rest
Le Soir Sacks Managing Editor
Feb 2nd, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
As a sign of respect for the intimate beliefs and convictions of every individual. Uh…… Read the rest
Remembering Fadima Shahindale
Feb 2nd, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
At conference on globalization of political Islam and its relation to honour killing.… Read the rest
The Cartoons Spread – Across Europe
Feb 1st, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Seven publications in France, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain carried some of the drawings.… Read the rest
Campaign: Release our Fathers
Feb 1st, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Homa Arjomand campaigns to aid imprisoned strikers and their children in Iran.… Read the rest
Fundamental Values are Being Challenged
Feb 1st, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Totalitarian and authoritarian impulses drive reactions to Jyllands-Posten cartoons.… Read the rest
Discussion of Religious Hatred Bill [audio]
Feb 1st, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Paul Goggins doesn’t get it.… Read the rest
Childish Tantrums Continue
Feb 1st, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Arab ministers urge Denmark to punish newspaper which printed ‘offensive’ cartoons.… Read the rest
Religious Hatred Bill
Feb 1st, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Shami Chakrabarti of Liberty glad that Parliament spoke up for rights and freedoms.… Read the rest
MPs Reject Compromise on Religious Hatred Bill
Feb 1st, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
MPs voted to back a key Lords amendment to the Racial and Religious Hatred Bill.… Read the rest
Defend striking bus workers of Tehran!
Feb 1st, 2006 | By Bahram SoroushHundreds of striking bus workers of the state-owned Vahed bus company are still in detention in Tehran today, 30th January, following the vicious attack by thousands of members of the security forces on their strike last Saturday.
The exact number of the detainees is still unknown. Anywhere from 500 to 700 workers may have been arrested – according to union officials speaking on foreign-based radio stations. Further arrests have been reported today, with pressure being put on the detained workers to sign pledges to give up their fight or risk losing their jobs. In a statement issued today, the bus workers’ union has called for a stoppage on 3rd February.
The arrests started on Friday 27th January, the eve of … Read the rest
Recent Activities
Feb 1st, 2006 1:37 am | By Ophelia BensonJust in case anyone runs away with the idea that I’m being too kind to religion here – let’s take a quick look at some of its recent cavortings.
There are the nice people who burn down new schools in one of the world’s poorest countries.
Militants in southern Afghanistan are reported to have burned down three schools in their latest move against the government’s education system. Officials blamed the former ruling Taleban for burning down the newly-built schools in Helmand province which serve some 1,000 boys and girls.
There are the fun guys who want to prevent women from running in races.
… Read the restSome 500 women took part in three races in Lahore, although 2,000 due to run had
Stiffen the Sinews, Summon Up the Blood
Feb 1st, 2006 1:36 am | By Ophelia BensonWe (a couple of us anyway) agreed in comments yesterday that motivation is an interesting subject. That’s a big part of what has kept me chipping away at this discussion – the subject of what motivates us to do things, good things and bad things, interests me a lot. It’s important, and it’s hard to figure out – it matters and it’s inevitably somewhat obscure. It matters because it (obviously) influences what we do – without it we wouldn’t do anything. (Which is also another reason it’s interesting – it hooks up with why the mind is adaptive, with what role it plays that makes it worth all the calories it burns.) And it’s obscure because we don’t fully understand … Read the rest
US States Plan Law to Restrict Anti-gay Demos
Jan 31st, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Fred Phelps and ‘God hates fags’ gang would be required to stay 300 feet away from funerals.… Read the rest
