‘Your governments have replaced the fundamentalist rule of the Taliban with another fundamentalist regime of warlords.’… 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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
Charles Taylor Notices the Obvious 
Jul 28th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
You can’t fit a serious argument onto the side of a bus. Who knew?!… Read the rest
Nigeria: Islamist Group Kills 150 People
Jul 28th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Radical Islamists, who claim to be linked to al-Qaeda, have killed more than 150 people in two days of violence.… Read the rest
Quarrel Over ‘Islamic School’ in Sydney
Jul 28th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Some campaigners say the debate has been laced with racial and religious intolerance.… Read the rest
Jerry Coyne Reviews Robert Wright on God
Jul 28th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The faithful – the ones who care about science – have tweaked the theory of evolution to make it more congenial. … Read the rest
M and K to ‘the New Atheist Blogosphere’
Jul 27th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
They try to engage in a civil debate, but it’s hopeless, because ‘the New Atheists’ just don’t understand.… Read the rest
Coyne on Francis Collins, Science and Religion
Jul 27th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
By describing in the same talk the evidence for evolution and the ‘evidence’ for God, he is confusing his audiences.… Read the rest
Sam Harris on Francis Collins
Jul 27th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
It can be difficult to think like a scientist. But few things make thinking like a scientist more difficult than religion.… Read the rest
Russell Blackford on Francis Collins
Jul 27th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Folk metaethics is probably mistaken, whether an almighty law-giving deity exists or not. … Read the rest
PZ Myers on Francis Collins
Jul 27th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Collins does not trust the godless people in his communities because, to his mind, they are blind to good and evil.… Read the rest
Nick Cohen on Tory Hypocrisy
Jul 26th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Reactionaries left and right.… Read the rest
Woman’s Whipping Sentence Prompts Backlash
Jul 26th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
A Sharia court sentenced her to six strokes of the cane and a fine for consuming alcohol a year ago.… Read the rest
Angry Jaffa Christians get Jesus Play Canceled
Jul 26th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Amos Kenan’s satirical play deals with the nature of being Israeli and with the occupation.… Read the rest
Solution: Blame Scientists, Add Fluff
Jul 26th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The cause of scientific illiteracy in America is the aloofness of scientists. Next question?… Read the rest
The Scientology Contract
Jul 26th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
You too can become a scientologist provided you don’t mind signing all your rights away.… Read the rest
Child Raped, Then Rejected by Her Family
Jul 25th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Allegedly raped by four boys, an 8-year-old Liberian girl is now in foster care after being shunned by her family.… Read the rest
Support Offered for Rejected Child
Jul 25th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Her father said he no longer wanted her in the home because she brought shame to the family.… Read the rest
‘Fundamentalist Atheist’ Trope Must Go
Jul 25th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
There is a difference – call it a fundamental one – between being certain and wrong and being certain and right. … Read the rest
Atheism is so Totally Fashionable
Jul 25th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘Everyone claims to be one. Like in the 90s, everyone was a Buddhist, then doing Kabbalah.’… Read the rest
Max Dunbar Reviews Karen Armstrong
Jul 25th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Armstrong seems to associate all transcendent and mystical activity with religious faith.… Read the rest
