Yes and one religion in particular doesn’t cause terrorism. Whew.… 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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
Yemen: Girl, 12, Dies in Agonizing Childbirth
Sep 14th, 2009 | Filed by Ophelia BensonFawziya Ammodi was taken out of school and forcibly married; she spent 3 days in labor then bled to death.… Read the rest
Johann Hari on Kristof and WuDunn on Women
Sep 14th, 2009 | Filed by Ophelia BensonThey have written an impassioned exposé of this subjugation—and a roadmap to equality.… Read the rest
Coalition of ‘Faith’ Groups to Fight Equality Laws
Sep 14th, 2009 | Filed by Ophelia BensonThey hope their lobbying will delay the Bill so that no new equality laws are passed in the UK.… Read the rest
Aceh Passes Adultery Stoning Law
Sep 14th, 2009 | Filed by Ophelia BensonThe law also imposes severe sentences for homosexuality, alcohol consumption and gambling. … Read the rest
Belief in ‘Faith’ Healing Threatens Recovery
Sep 14th, 2009 | Filed by Ophelia BensonBelief and intention to use faith healing was a significant predictor of self-reported non-adherence to a medication.… Read the rest
Epic Science Journalism FAIL
Sep 14th, 2009 | Filed by Ophelia BensonThe Telegraph ran a story that included the claim ‘There is no evidence for evolution.’… Read the rest
Ars Technica Reviews Unscientific America
Sep 14th, 2009 | Filed by Ophelia BensonHas admirable goals, but lacks substance.… Read the rest
Muradi’s Act of Solidarity With the People of Iran
Sep 13th, 2009 | Filed by Ophelia BensonLess than two weeks ago. Why is the Home Office planning to deport him?!… Read the rest
Armstrong and Dawkins on God
Sep 12th, 2009 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘Religion is a kind of art form.’ ‘Evolution is God’s redundancy notice.’… Read the rest
Modern Religion Emulates the Trappings of Science
Sep 12th, 2009 | Filed by Ophelia BensonIt’s not working, so call Karen Armstrong for wool about ‘a symbol that points beyond itself to an indescribable transcendence.’… Read the rest
No Darwin Movie Please We’re American
Sep 12th, 2009 | Filed by Ophelia BensonUS distributors decline ‘Creation’ because it’s too ‘controversial.’… Read the rest
‘Bible-carrying Fanatic’ Hijacked Mexican Plane
Sep 12th, 2009 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘Exactly what many critics of conservatives take advantage of to push their anti-God efforts in America.’… Read the rest
Male Clergy Coerce Women Into Sex
Sep 11th, 2009 | Filed by Ophelia BensonHe says it is God’s will and she takes his word for it. Easy.… Read the rest
Halal Search Engines for Muslims
Sep 11th, 2009 | Filed by Ophelia BensonIt is so useful to be told what is haram and what is halal.… Read the rest
Boris Johnson Cites Valuable Lessons of Islam
Sep 11th, 2009 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘Such as the importance of community spirit, family ties, compassion and helping those less fortunate.’… Read the rest
Tariq Ramadan Says He’s Been Too Nice
Sep 11th, 2009 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘Take the cartoon riots, or the bombings in Madrid. It leads to mistrust.’… Read the rest
Colleagues Remember Sultan Munadi
Sep 11th, 2009 | Filed by Ophelia BensonA terrible loss.… Read the rest
The BBC on the ‘English Defense League’
Sep 11th, 2009 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘So if it’s not exclusively white, is it just a cover for a wider Islamophobia?’… Read the rest
Andrew Brown Swoons for Blair on ‘Faith’
Sep 10th, 2009 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘Blair understands that religion isn’t applied theology. That belief gets everything precisely backwards.’… Read the rest