Education has ‘a dark side’: people who question church authority.… 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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
Priest Threatens Obama Supporters 
Nov 17th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Tax-exempt fanatic says voting for Obama ‘constitutes material cooperation with intrinsic evil.’… Read the rest
Unelected Charles Wants More Power
Nov 17th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Wants to go on promoting anti-science nonsense as king.… Read the rest
Somalia: Islamists Whip People Who Dance
Nov 17th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘We neither killed them nor injured them, but only whipped them according to the Islamic law.’… Read the rest
Prince Charles Will Mouth Off as King
Nov 17th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Says he would like his role to evolve so that his ‘knowledge and experience’ are not wasted.… Read the rest
Bad Science: ‘I Married a Horse’
Nov 15th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Surely the magazine had a responsibility to verify medical information before publishing such claims?… Read the rest
Matthias Rath and Alternative Health Eurosceptics
Nov 15th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The alternative health sector is lobbying the EU parliament against legislative regulation of their products. … Read the rest
Paul Krugman: Depression Economics Returns
Nov 15th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The rules of economic policy no longer apply: virtue becomes vice, caution is risky and prudence is folly.… Read the rest
Karen Armstrong Talks Literal Nonsense
Nov 15th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘The practice of compassion is central to every one of the major world religions – but sometimes you would never know it.’… Read the rest
Mormons Tipped the Scale on Prop 8
Nov 15th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Leadership issued a decree to be read to congregations: ‘the formation of families is central to the Creator’s plan.’… Read the rest
Bush Says Freedom is God’s Gift
Nov 14th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Defends ‘religious dissidents and believers’; no mention of atheists.… Read the rest
Support Political Prisoners in Burundi
Nov 14th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Several opposition leaders have been arrested including Jean Claude Kavumbagu and Alexis Sinduhije.… Read the rest
‘Christian Voice’ Gets Book Launch Canceled
Nov 14th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Patrick Jones said he had not singled out Christianity in his poems, but was questioning beliefs in society.… Read the rest
UN: ‘Defamation of Religion’ Should be Banned
Nov 14th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘Yes, I believe that defamation of religion should be banned,’ official said in reply to question.… Read the rest
Wishful Thinking
Nov 14th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Saudi King is ‘articulating the central Muslim value of religious pluralism.’ The wot?… Read the rest
Human Solidarity in a World Without God
Nov 13th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Human solidarity is in fact a rational response to the ‘human condition,’ as Schopenhauer saw.… Read the rest
Acid Attack on Afghan Schoolgirls
Nov 13th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Attackers have sprayed acid in the faces of at least 15 girls near a school in Kandahar.… Read the rest
Thailand: Prison for Lèse Majesté
Nov 13th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Army warns it will not tolerate anything that could be interpreted as criticism of the royal family.… Read the rest
Catholic Bishops Warn of Abortion Fight
Nov 13th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Bishop Jaime Soto fumed, ‘There really is plenty of choice for women in this culture.’… Read the rest
Burundi: Journalist Jailed for ‘Insulting the President’
Nov 13th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Richard Wilson on why some thought Nkurunziza was not too bad. Wishful thinking, yes, but more.… Read the rest
