‘What keeps me bright and looking forward to every day is that it can’t be any worse.’… 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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
Praying Nurse Refuses to Stop 
Feb 7th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Trust says patients must request prayer, Petrie may not initiate it; she says she cannot promise that.… Read the rest
Believers Pitch Fit About NHS Guidelines
Feb 7th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
NHS discourages preaching on the job; people who want to preach on the job are furious.… Read the rest
AU on Obama’s ‘Faith-Based’ Program
Feb 7th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Public money should not fund proselytism and religious discrimination in the ‘faith-based’ initiative.… Read the rest
Praying Nurse to Return to Work
Feb 6th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Another martyrdom nipped in the bud.… Read the rest
Nadya Suleman Wanted a Huge Family
Feb 6th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Said she wanted to make up for the loneliness she felt growing up as an only child.… Read the rest
Simon Jenkins on ‘Fertility Wardens’
Feb 6th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Funny how he keeps letting his misogyny show.… Read the rest
Michelle Goldberg on Obama’s Capitulation
Feb 6th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
In his quest for ecumenical comity, Obama is suggesting he may capitulate on hiring rights.… Read the rest
Blair and Obama Talk ‘Faith’ at ‘Prayer Breakfast’
Feb 6th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Ew.… Read the rest
Obama Reneges on ‘Faith-Based’ Programs
Feb 5th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Takes a more ‘nuanced’ position on proselyitizing and discrimination in hiring. Oh swell.… Read the rest
‘Mother of the Believers’ Got 80 Women Raped
Feb 5th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
She convinced them that suicide bombing was the only way to escape the ‘shame.’… Read the rest
Bush Chief of Staff Tells Obama: Put Jacket On
Feb 5th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Because wearing a jacket is what matters, not competence or attention or knowledge or skill.… Read the rest
Jesus Discovers the Joys of Fideism
Feb 5th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
He may have the details a little wrong, but he’s content.… Read the rest
Gregorius Nekschot at Free Press Society
Feb 5th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Believers may discriminate against women and gays as they see fit, but they may not be criticized.… Read the rest
Nurse Uses Job to Evangelize
Feb 4th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Code of conduct: you must not use your professional status to promote causes not related to health.… Read the rest
Nurse Suspended For Offering Prayer
Feb 4th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
She was there as a nurse, not as a cleric.… Read the rest
Nat Hentoff on UN and ‘Defamation of Religion’
Feb 4th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Why a gag rule on insulting religions is not a great idea.… Read the rest
Radio Director Murdered in Somalia
Feb 4th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The director of Somalia’s independent HornAfrik radio station, Said Tahlil Ahmed, has been killed.… Read the rest
Mother of Octuplets Deluged With Media Offers
Feb 4th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Mothers of dreary routine one baby at a time go unremunerated and unwatched.… Read the rest
Sarah Chayes on the Taliban in Afghanistan
Feb 4th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The corruption is so bad that people are starting to prefer the Taliban again.… Read the rest
