A group of rabbis and mystics circled Israel in a plane, praying and blowing horns to ward off H1N1.… 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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
Kenan Malik Asks: Are All Muslims the Same? 
Aug 13th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Malik explores how perceptions of Islam have been shaped by the media.… Read the rest
Mooney and Kirshenbaum Reach a New Low
Aug 12th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Petulant finger-pointing disguised as a think piece.… Read the rest
Myers on Mooney/Kirshenbaum
Aug 12th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Is this a plea for Dawkins to stop writing books of any kind, or to convert to some conventional piety? … Read the rest
Jerry Coyne on Mooney and Kirshenbaum
Aug 12th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
We’ve been making nice with religion for decades, and America remains as ‘unscientific’ as ever.… Read the rest
Dilemma in Iran: How to Execute a Virgin?
Aug 12th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Guards rape them the night before they are executed so that they will spend eternity in hell.… Read the rest
Christian ‘Clinic’ Promises to Cure Cancer
Aug 12th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Faith-healing clinic in Christchurch NZ offers to cure cancer and broken bones through prayer. … Read the rest
Crunchy Con Agrees with Mooney/Kirshenbaum
Aug 12th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Conservative politics and religion; well there you go.… Read the rest
Simon Singh Applies for Further Appeal
Aug 11th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The case has prompted a campaign for defamation law to be kept out of scientific disputes.… Read the rest
A Toothless Argument
Aug 11th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Loonies still oppose fluoridation of water, so teeth continue to decay. Ice cream, Mandrake? Children’s ice cream?… Read the rest
Hamas Pushes ‘Virtue Campaign’ in Gaza
Aug 11th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Which of course translates to bullying women.… Read the rest
How To Tweak a Graph
Aug 11th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Keep on differentiating until you find a curve that matches your needs.… Read the rest
Poor God is on the Skids
Aug 11th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Defenders of the faith insist that the authors of ‘aggressive secularism’ focus maliciously on the bad parts.… Read the rest
Asma Jahangir Urges Repeal of Blasphemy Laws
Aug 10th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
NGOs cited the Gojra incident: the local administration allowed organised groups to kill Christians.… Read the rest
American Psychological Association Submits
Aug 10th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
APA says ‘religious faith and psychology do not have to be seen as being opposed to each other.’… Read the rest
Sarah Palin’s Way With the Truth
Aug 10th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Says ‘Obama’s “death panel”’ will decide whether her ‘baby with Down Syndrome’ is ‘worthy of health care.’… Read the rest
Where is the Muslim Anger Over Darfur?
Aug 10th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Some commentators in Muslim-majority countries are questioning their leaders’ support for Bashir.… Read the rest
Does God Hate Women?
Aug 9th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Read extracts, check out the reviews, get some wisdom from Madeleine Bunting.… Read the rest
Dan Jones Replies to Karen Armstrong
Aug 9th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
If you take out the doctrine, aren’t you left with rational secular discourse?… Read the rest
George Scialabba Seminar at Crooked Timber
Aug 9th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
One has to be impressed with Scialabba’s uncanny ability to inhabit the books and writers he reviews.… Read the rest
