Senior officials speak of keeping a proper balance between freedom and social cohesion.… 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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
Tens of Thousands Protested Mali’s New Law 
Aug 27th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘We have to stick to the Koran. It’s a tiny minority of women here that wants this new law – the intellectuals. The poor and illiterate women of this country – the real Muslims – are against it.’… Read the rest
Coyne on James Wood on Dawkins or Eagleton
Aug 27th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Wood flings the usual mud at atheists, as usual with no quotations, then gets to grips with Terry.… Read the rest
Irish Church Paying Price for Clerical Dominance
Aug 26th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The Ryan report was horrendous; the effect on the morale and reputation of the church and Ireland, devastating.… Read the rest
Belief in a God That Makes No Difference
Aug 26th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
There may not be any compelling reason to believe that such a being exists, but the question is intelligible.… Read the rest
Nesrine Malik Finds Feminism Patronizing
Aug 26th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Western feminists must learn to understand the burqa.… Read the rest
Venezuela: Catholic Church Meddling in Politics
Aug 26th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Venezuela’s bishops oppose new education law because it promotes secular education.… Read the rest
Catholic Group Working to Repeal Blasphemy Law
Aug 26th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
In Pakistan, where Christians are a minority subject to persecution. In Ireland, on the other hand…… Read the rest
Senator From Utah Writes Book on Mormonism
Aug 26th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Asks four questions to test whether Book of Mormon is a fake. ‘Seriously, gold plates, Moroni?’… Read the rest
Quackometer on the Society of Homeopaths
Aug 25th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Those studies they cite? Take a closer look.… Read the rest
Sebastian Faulks Not Totally Smitten With Koran
Aug 25th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Has ‘courted controversy’ by saying so.… Read the rest
Sebastian Faulks Says the Koran is Terrific
Aug 25th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Really – he loves it – he read Karen Armstrong for his research – he wouldn’t dream of offending.… Read the rest
Excerpt From Dawkins’s ‘Greatest Show on Earth’
Aug 25th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
With bizarro Times headline worthy of Glen Beck.… Read the rest
Mediawatchwatch on Sebastian Faulks
Aug 25th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Did Faulks cave in to threats, or is he merely offering a pre-emptive apology in advance of them?… Read the rest
Alun Salt on the Politics of Accommodation
Aug 24th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Van Houtan and Pimm do not argue that all the public should be treated as if they’re in the remedial class.… Read the rest
NY Times Magazine on Global Women’s Rights
Aug 24th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Why women’s rights are the cause of our time.… Read the rest
Kristof and WuDunn on Unsubordinating Women
Aug 24th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The world is awakening to a powerful truth: Women and girls aren’t the problem; they’re the solution.… Read the rest
They Want Us to Be Stupid Things
Aug 24th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The Mirwais Mena School closed after the acid attacks, but only for a week. Nearly all the girls returned.… Read the rest
No Grand Bargain Between Evolution and Theism
Aug 24th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
It doesn’t follow that because organisms in nature have purposes, nature as a whole has a purpose.… Read the rest
The Daughter Deficit
Aug 24th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
In China and India girls are more likely to be missing in richer areas than in poorer ones, in cities than in rural areas. … Read the rest
