A far-right group pitches a fit; no one else is perturbed.… 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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
Bernard-Henri Lévy updates news on Ashtiani 
Sep 7th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Only one thing, in fact, is sure. The stoning has been suspended, not canceled.… Read the rest
Cardinal says BBC has anti-Christian bias
Sep 6th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Complains of “a radically secular and socially liberal mindset”; demands more air time for clerics.… Read the rest
Tim Crane on religion, mystery and evidence
Sep 6th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Science and religion are different, yet religions rest on historical claims, but – uh – whatever.… Read the rest
Vatican tools say gay marriage is like decaf coffee
Sep 6th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
“A gay relationship is like decaffeinated coffee, you do not wake up,” said a priest/bioethics professor at Regina Apostolorum U.… Read the rest
Mark Vernon tells such a cute little story
Sep 5th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
All about Stephen Hawking, and his daddy, and not knowing where everything came from, and the name for that is “God.”… Read the rest
The Guardian endorses God
Sep 5th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
God is too superior to be interested in our arguments about “Him” but the Graun knows all there is to know on the subject.… Read the rest
BBC’s pathetic coverage of stoning in Iran
Sep 5th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Talked to two people defending stoning but somehow never got to Maryam Namazie.… Read the rest
Ashtiani receives new sentence of 99 lashes
Sep 5th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Because the Times published a picture purportedly of her without a headscarf.… Read the rest
Interview with Ashtiani’s son Sajjad
Sep 4th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The outside pressure works. “You’re all we have. There is no one else, except for you, to give us a hand.”… Read the rest
Atheists are murderers and terrorists
Sep 4th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
PZ Myers “vandalized sacred religious property”; run for your lives.… Read the rest
Kenan Malik reviews Tariq Ramadan
Sep 4th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
There is a willfull shallowness about this work, a refusal to think deeply or to pose difficult questions, that is truly shocking. … Read the rest
David Colquhoun sacked from alt med council
Sep 4th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Now that they know he thinks reflexology is bollocks, they think he might be happier elsewhere.… Read the rest
LRB on Frank Kermode
Sep 4th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
His writing was so much more exact, more stylish, more patient, more ironic, more playful, more attentive, more cunning, more cagey than ‘eloquence’ can suggest.… Read the rest
Paul Davies: the meta-laws remain unexplained
Sep 4th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
They are eternal, immutable transcendent entities that just happen to exist and must simply be accepted as given; like a god.… Read the rest
Baggini on Hawking and God
Sep 4th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
There is no room in the universe of Hawking or most other scientists for the activist God of the Bible.… Read the rest
Sharia is just misunderstood
Sep 4th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
It’s just like the US Constitution, only older, so that makes it even better.… Read the rest
Danish producers regret making ad for Sweden Democrats
Sep 3rd, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Swedish broadcasters declined to show the film, and no Swedish production company was willing to produce it.… Read the rest
Sweden: tv station rejects ad as hate speech
Sep 3rd, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia Benson“The difference between freedom of speech and incitement to hatred against an ethnic group must be understood,” said Mona Sahlin of Social Democrats.… Read the rest
Religious minorities suffering worst in Pakistan floods
Sep 3rd, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The laws offer what is virtually state approval to those intent on attacking minorities.… Read the rest
