Templeton is endeavouring to return human thought to the deeply conflicted state that Newton and Spinoza had to live with.… 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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
John Horgan in SciAm on the Templeton prize 
Apr 10th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The Templeton Foundation promotes a view of science and religion as roughly equivalent.… Read the rest
Nick Cohen on Templeton and “respect” for religion
Apr 10th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
In the past, the faithful did not accuse their critics of mere bad manners.… Read the rest
Michael Ruse on…the new atheists
Apr 9th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Yes really. Again.… Read the rest
Barbara Forrest on a prayer network malfunction?
Apr 9th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The Louisiana Coalition for Science says the Louisiana Science Education Act is a creationist law; now a prayer group has slipped up and confirmed that.… Read the rest
Bill allowing teachers to challenge evolution passes
Apr 9th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The Tennessee House of Representatives passed HB 368, a bill that “encourages science teachers to explore controversial topics without fear of reprisal.”… Read the rest
Their dinner with Sam
Apr 9th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Is it possible to think of an example of an act that everyone would consider moral that unquestionably decreases well being?… Read the rest
Victor Stenger on the contingency of convergence
Apr 8th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Purpose remains a major area of conflict between religion and science. Religion claims the universe has a purpose, but no scientific evidence supports this yearning.… Read the rest
More Guardian “why are atheists so cross?”
Apr 8th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Intolerance, stupidity, abuse, abusive, petty, spiteful, militant atheist, professional atheists, take Lady R on a shopping spree, blowhards, arrogant, men of faith.… Read the rest
Kylie Sturgess talks to Tim Minchin
Apr 8th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
“Christianity is still around because people have had self interest and have promoted it, the same way you promote Coca-Cola.”… Read the rest
Templeton is not either an enemy of science
Apr 8th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
“Unlike Jerry Coyne, I don’t see a bogeymen round every religious corner.” So there nyah.… Read the rest
Templeton: the Guardian fights back
Apr 8th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Tunnel vision, proselytising atheists, metaphors, Newton’s religion, Einstein’s God of sorts, book-promoting blathering of Stephen Hawking, nuance.… Read the rest
Controversial Templeton prize is controversial
Apr 7th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The controversial Templeton Foundation has awarded its controversial prize to an agnostic; that’s controversial.… Read the rest
Salil Tripathi on banning books
Apr 7th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Narendra Modi decided to defend Gujarat’s pride and banned Lelyveld’s biography of Gandhi. He hadn’t read it, but that’s the nature of fundamentalists.… Read the rest
Lewis Wolpert and Peter Atkins on Templeton prize
Apr 7th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
“But does all religion necessarily undermine rationality?” “Oh, absolutely.”… Read the rest
Kadyrov is turning the clock back in Chechnya
Apr 7th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Women face coercion to wear hijab as part of a “virtues” campaign, men are allowed polygamous marriage and alcohol is forbidden.… Read the rest
Ronald de Sousa on the problem with the sacred
Apr 7th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
A rational mind has room for conviction, commitment, passion, perhaps even for parochialism and bias. But not for the sacred.… Read the rest
HRW to Libya: allow Eman al-‘Obeidy to leave Tripoli
Apr 7th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Al-‘Obeidy says she has tried to leave Tripoli three times since she first told journalists about the rape on March 26, but was stopped by government forces.… Read the rest
Record number of German Catholics quit church
Apr 7th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
50,000 more Catholics cancelled their church membership last year than in 2009, an increase of 40 percent.… Read the rest
Lots of Satanism on the internet
Apr 7th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Thus need for lots of exorcists. Jobs for Catholic priests! And in the nick of time, too…… Read the rest
