She sought an abortion, but she was refused, and a Catholic magazine compared her to a child killer.… 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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
Christmas to Remain in Texas Textbooks! 
Sep 22nd, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Some experts wanted to drop it but that’s not going to happen. Thank you Jesus!… Read the rest
Tariq Ramadan ‘Defends’ his Views
Sep 22nd, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Stoning is in the Koran, but what do the texts say, what are the conditions to implement the punishment?… Read the rest
Halal Slaughter and Animal Suffering
Sep 22nd, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Much of halal slaughter involves animals’ throats being cut while they are fully conscious.… Read the rest
Imagine – There Are Non-believers in the US
Sep 22nd, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Someday they might even be a quarter of the population. Stone the crows.… Read the rest
Skeptico on Rosenau on ‘Ways of Knowing’
Sep 22nd, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Who are the real enablers?… Read the rest
Christians Fighting Assisted Suicide Rules
Sep 22nd, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Christian Legal Centre says Lord Phillips feels inappropriate sympathy for those with terminal illness.… Read the rest
A Miracle of Reasoning
Sep 21st, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘Lourdes is littered with discarded crutches. Many of those miracles of healing have been verified by doctors.’… Read the rest
UK: Dawkins Urges Lib Dems to Fix Libel Law
Sep 21st, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Lib Dems passed a motion calling for better balance to safeguard responsible scientific journalism and commentary. … Read the rest
UK: Sharia Council Judge Explains Sharia
Sep 21st, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘Under the Islamic system,’ the man can divorce unilaterally, the woman cannot. And so on.… Read the rest
Subjection and Escape [pdf]
Sep 21st, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Lisa Bauer converted to Islam, then faced years of faith-justified mental and sexual abuse at the hand of her trusted imam. … Read the rest
Is Religiosity Beneficial?
Sep 20th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The popularity of religious belief may be a reflection of a psychological mechanism for coping with stress.… Read the rest
Another Nurse, Another Cross
Sep 20th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The NHS bans all necklaces for safety reasons; Christian Legal Centre cites a ‘secularist agenda.’… Read the rest
Somali Islamists Ban UN Books
Sep 20th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Al-Shabab says Somali schools should stop using ‘un-Islamic’ textbooks distributed by the UN.… Read the rest
More Profundity from Terry Eagleton
Sep 20th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘You can’t simply, in a sectarian way, assert one tradition over another,’ he says, doing just that.… Read the rest
UK: Assisted Suicide Partly De-criminalized
Sep 20th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Those who assist a friend or relative to end their lives on compassionate grounds will not be prosecuted. … Read the rest
Irish Nuns Used to Sell Children
Sep 20th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Unmarried mothers were imprisoned, enslaved, forced to tend their babies only to see them sold.… Read the rest
Busted for Arguing About Religion
Sep 20th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Hoteliers charged with breaching Section 5 of the Public Order Act for discussing religion with guest.… Read the rest
Taner Edis on ‘Does God Hate Women?’
Sep 19th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
With an interesting discussion of the competing attractions of choice and stability.… Read the rest
Italy: Moroccan Man Accused of ‘Honor’ Killing
Sep 19th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Sanaa Dafani was stabbed in the throat while she was sitting in a car with her boyfriend.… Read the rest
