“The Koran itself says it.”… 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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
This is your brain on metaphors 
Nov 15th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Robert Sapolsky on how the brain links the literal and the metaphorical.… Read the rest
Aung San Suu Kyi aims for peaceful revolution
Nov 15th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
She told the BBC she hopes for a non-violent end to military rule.… Read the rest
Cathy Grossman compares atheists to Fred Phelps
Nov 15th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Atheists note hateful passages in the bible, therefore, atheists are comparable to Westboro Baptists.… Read the rest
Tony Blair says religion must have a place in politics
Nov 15th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The religious dimension of politics cannot be ignored because it is a reality that must be accommodated, he said.… Read the rest
Jesus and Mo tease the barmaid
Nov 14th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Faithy-waithy faith-head, na na na na na.… Read the rest
Former woman on women in science
Nov 14th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Prof. Barres’s experience suggests that if women are less competitive, it is because that trait has been beaten out of them.… Read the rest
Andrew Anthony talks to Christopher Hitchens
Nov 14th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
He’s said before that his life is his writing, but perhaps it would be more accurate to say that his life is an argument in which writing takes the lead role.… Read the rest
Afghanistan: a girl dares to go to school
Nov 14th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
She wants to be a politician. The neighbors call her venomous names.… Read the rest
Mona Eltahawy on Saudi Arabia and women
Nov 14th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Once again, women are the cheapest bargaining chips, thrown on the table to silence and appease allies and “major donors.”… Read the rest
Exorcism revival for US Catholics
Nov 13th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Bishops are holding a conference to help priests learn to distinguish who really needs an exorcism from who really needs a psychiatrist.… Read the rest
Aung San Suu Kyi released from house arrest
Nov 13th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Her release comes six days after the political party supported by the military won Burma’s first election in 20 years.… Read the rest
Blogger Walid Husayin arrested for “heresy”
Nov 12th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
He is suspected of posting “atheistic rants” on English and Arabic blogs and creating three Facebook groups where he spoofed the Koran.… Read the rest
Walid Husayin could get life in prison for atheism
Nov 12th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
He lives in the West Bank, and he said rude things about Islam on Facebook…until the authorities found him.… Read the rest
Woman topples Orthodox law disinheriting her
Nov 12th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Her parents left her their house, but her brother – the first-born son of an Orthodox rabbi – claimed the religious right to lock her out.… Read the rest
Thoughts of an atheist teaching in “faith” schools
Nov 12th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Even finding the best parking space at the local casino apparently depends on how many in the car can chorus the ‘Hail Mary’ in unison.… Read the rest
Obama overstates Indonesia’s tolerance
Nov 12th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Just last April Constitutional Court upheld the constitutionality of Indonesia’s Blasphemy Act.… Read the rest
Religious doctors’ rights don’t trump women’s rights
Nov 12th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Deploying conscience claims as a means to deny women’s access to lawful services lacks all moral legitimacy.… Read the rest
The biblical-womanhood-industrial complex
Nov 12th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
In a biblical home and church, the man is the head and the woman must submit.… Read the rest
Jesus and Mo discuss God and the miners
Nov 11th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Or do they.… Read the rest
