Authority via study and research v. authority via accident of birth.… Read the rest
All entries by this author
Union of Concerned Scientists
Jul 9th, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia BensonChris Mooney reports on their press conference.… Read the rest
Polly Toynbee Named ‘Islamophobe of Year’
Jul 9th, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia BensonPerhaps it’s time to start naming ‘Secularophobe of the Year’.… Read the rest
Meghnad Desai on Religious Hatred Laws
Jul 9th, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia BensonSecular democracy should get away from privileging religion, not give it special status.… Read the rest
How About Religious Mild Dislike?
Jul 9th, 2004 2:41 am | By Ophelia BensonAs I promised or threatened yesterday, more on the ‘attempt by various well meaning people to legislate religious hatred as a ground for prosecution on the same basis as racial hatred,’ as Meghnad Desai put it in The Independent. Desai also thinks it’s a bad idea. Good, that. Let’s hope many people think so and say so.
… Read the restA secular tolerant democracy needs to get away from privileging religion as a mark of citizenship rather than giving it a special status. The Anglican Church needs to be disestablished and its privileges such as the Blasphemy Law removed. Human rights should adhere to one’s humanity regardless of special characteristics. In a truly equal society we will all be citizens protected under
Study of Environmental Causes of Autism
Jul 8th, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia BensonColin Blakemore says MRC’s 2001 review of autism research highlighted gaps in knowledge. … Read the rest
Surely Ethical Tobacco is an Oxymoron?
Jul 8th, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia BensonWell but they grow it with ever such nice organic fertilizer.… Read the rest
Campaigns Against Vaccinations Can Do Harm
Jul 8th, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia BensonHow can doctors be persuaded to comport themselves as scientists? … Read the rest
Hear Blunkett on Today
Jul 8th, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia BensonNo worry, we can say what we like about religion, as long as it’s sensible.… Read the rest
Hormonal Birth Control as ‘Silent’ Abortionist
Jul 8th, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia BensonPharmacists and doctors are denying patients access to birth control pills.… Read the rest
Blunkett’s Well-meaning Waffle
Jul 8th, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia BensonBeyond the remit and power of home secretaries to compel people to be kind.… Read the rest
That’s a Relief
Jul 8th, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia BensonWe can criticise religion, as long as we do it sensibly.… Read the rest
Blunkett Renews Bid to Outlaw Religious Hatred
Jul 8th, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia BensonInappropriate to punish those who merely offend people’s religious sensibilities?… Read the rest
What Price ‘Life of Brian’?
Jul 8th, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia BensonDavid Blunkett wants to outlaw ‘inciting religious hatred’.… Read the rest
Lesson Plans
Jul 8th, 2004 | By Daniel GreenAlthough Elaine Showalter’s Teaching Literature is clearly intended to be read primarily by graduate students or instructors just beginning their teaching careers, one can also read the book, against the grain of the author’s own rhetorical goals, perhaps, as a guide for the academic outlander to the curious practices of that disciplinary subculture responsible for what still passes as literary study. Those who retain an image of the English professor as a high-minded if pedantic guardian of the treasures of Literature will find provided here what amounts to the finishing touches on the recast image the profession has been working on for at least twenty years. Just as high-minded but in a more earnest, socially-conscious way, even more firmly attached … Read the rest
Blunkett on Today
Jul 8th, 2004 3:42 am | By Ophelia BensonWow – that was scary. I just listened to David Blunkett on the Today programme, talking about this new law against inciting hatred against religion. It’s – let’s see – 3:30 in the morning in the UK, so a new Today will be starting in two and a half hours, and I think the archive is only good for one day – until it’s replaced by the next one. So only a few Yanks, if anyone, will likely listen to this, but I’m going to stick it in here anyway.
Update: Oh, the link does still work. I was wrong about ‘Today’s’ archive. So listen – it’s scary stuff.
Because it really is quite disgusting. He wants unity and community … Read the rest
A Theosophical Heir to the Throne
Jul 7th, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘Much of this assault on contemporary rationalism flows from the prince’s rather eclectic spiritualism.’… Read the rest
BHL Has Views That Annoy
Jul 7th, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘The Palestinian “victimocracy” has a tendency to hide wars that are infinitely longer and more murderous.’… Read the rest
Is There a Shortage of Scientists in the US?
Jul 7th, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia BensonThe inaccuracy of past pronouncements creates a woof-woof problem.… Read the rest
On Alexis de Tocqueville
Jul 7th, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia BensonThe physics of democracy.… Read the rest