A more accurate definition for atheist would be “One for whom God is unnecessary as an explanatory concept.”… Read the rest
Welcome to our archive of news stories relevant to the project of fighting fashionable nonsense. The stories are drawn from the electronic pages of the world’s media. On this page, you’ll find links to those stories that have been featured on Butterflies and Wheels during the current year. At the bottom of the page, you’ll find links to separate archives of stories from previous years.
We’re always pleased to hear about news stories that you think should be featured on Butterflies and Wheels. Just send an email here, if you want to point one out to us.
A note about links
Inevitably links go out of date. We suggest, therefore, that you make hard-copies of the stories that particularly interest you.
Religious Right guy blubs because gays win equality 
Jul 6th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
How can one weep in sadness over the fact that NY same-sex couples will be able to marry? Who knows.… Read the rest
US: hate groups on the rise after Obama election
Jul 6th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Birthers, “Patriot” groups, anti-Semites, you name it.… Read the rest
Phil Plait on elevator propositioning
Jul 5th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Sexism (conscious or otherwise) is still a strong force in our society, and a lot of men will dismiss claims of sexism from women.… Read the rest
Chris Hallquist on philosophy as disfunctional
Jul 5th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The source of the problem is that, as Peter van Inwagen once said, “Philosophers do not agree about anything to speak of.”… Read the rest
Mustard Seed Secular School in Uganda needs money
Jul 5th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The main need is for more space for the school to grow. … Read the rest
No skepticism please we’re American
Jul 5th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Major US publishers say skeptical books don’t sell.… Read the rest
Will Ireland apologize to the Magdalenes?
Jul 5th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The ten Magdalene laundries were for-profit businesses where women and girls were incarcerated against their will and forced to do unpaid physical labor.… Read the rest
Health minister calls homosexuality “a disease”
Jul 5th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
India’s health minister told a conference on HIV/Aids that homosexuality “is a disease which has come from other countries.”… Read the rest
Christians battle witches in Alcester
Jul 4th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
They take each other seriously…… Read the rest
Homophobic imam cites “Islamophobia”
Jul 4th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
He got expelled from Germany for saying “homosexuals should be executed if they are caught in the act.” It’s an outrage!… Read the rest
The risks of being a Somali woman journalist
Jul 4th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
“A gun to your head is not much of an encouragement.”… Read the rest
Nick Cohen notes the real class divide
Jul 3rd, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
It’s not between rich and poor but between rich and everyone else.… Read the rest
Europe is less secular than you might think
Jul 3rd, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
There is the state funding of churches, for example. Marc Alan Di Martino explains.… Read the rest
Oh no, another atheist emergency
Jul 3rd, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Atheists are advertising again. That is SO unfair.… Read the rest
Francis Collins talks god in public
Jul 3rd, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
“God’s plan included the mechanism of evolution to achieve that, to create this marvelous diversity of living things on our planet.”… Read the rest
Terry Glavin on post-pullout Afghanistan
Jul 2nd, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The “international community” is falling all over itself to offer the Taliban a surrender, negotiated or otherwise.… Read the rest
Anti-gay speakers at Muslim conference during Pride
Jul 2nd, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
“We need to learn how to respect one another and live in peace”…with people who think gays should be executed.… Read the rest
Tory gay group: Ken should be banned from Pride
Jul 2nd, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
He’s too friendly with too many homophobes like al-Qaradawi.… Read the rest
