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Inevitably links go out of date.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.


Turkey Blocks Dawkins Website *

Sep 18th, 2008 | Filed by

Court order blocks access after complaints from Harun Yahya; Dawkins panned his ‘Atlas of Creation.’… Read the rest



CFI: Austin Dacey on Islam and Human Rights *

Sep 18th, 2008 | Filed by

Several Islamic states have challenged the UDHR and have penned ‘Islamic human rights’ documents in its place.… Read the rest



Review of Books on Islamic Anti-Semitism *

Sep 18th, 2008 | Filed by

Western liberals hesitate to tackle the subject of Muslim anti-Semitism, lest they seem anti-multicultural.… Read the rest



Dick Armey Says Cheney Lied to Him *

Sep 17th, 2008 | Filed by

Conservative Republican Armey was against the war, might have stopped it.… Read the rest



What Cheney Told Armey *

Sep 17th, 2008 | Filed by

That Saddam Hussein had personal ties to al-Qaeda and was close to miniaturizing nuclear weapons.… Read the rest



Barton Gellman on Dick Cheney *

Sep 17th, 2008 | Filed by

What Dick Armey told him, and whether Armey is angry about it.… Read the rest



Reiss Statements Open to Misinterpretation *

Sep 17th, 2008 | Filed by

The Royal Society said this was not his intention but that it ‘has led to damage to the society’s reputation.’… Read the rest



Christian Voice Makes New Grab for Attention *

Sep 17th, 2008 | Filed by

With cryptic remarks about Dawkins and the father of lies. Attention must be paid, or perhaps not.… Read the rest



Reiss Resigns as Education Director at RS *

Sep 16th, 2008 | Filed by

Royal Society reiterated: creationism has no scientific basis and should not be part of the science curriculum.… Read the rest



Dawkins to New Scientist on Reiss *

Sep 16th, 2008 | Filed by

‘What Reiss actually said is not a self-evidently inappropriate stance for the Royal Society to take.’… Read the rest



Royal Society Fellows Turned on Reiss *

Sep 16th, 2008 | Filed by

No way an ordained minister, for whom unverified dogma is central, can present free-thinking, doubt-based scientific philosophy disinterestedly.… Read the rest



Aaronovitch on a Web of Sinister Untruths *

Sep 16th, 2008 | Filed by

The MMR panic was aided by a boneheaded refusal to discriminate between better and worse arguments.… Read the rest



Criminal Sharia Judgments *

Sep 16th, 2008 | Filed by

Imagine what kind of consent wives involved in domestic violence cases have given to sharia court’s jurisdiction.… Read the rest



Pope Meddles With French Secularism *

Sep 15th, 2008 | Filed by

Do things differently, Ratzinger tells France.… Read the rest



Sharia Officially Adopted in UK *

Sep 15th, 2008 | Filed by

Rulings issued by a network of five sharia courts are enforceable with the full power of the judicial system.… Read the rest



Catholics Pitch Another ‘Persecution’ Fit *

Sep 15th, 2008 | Filed by

Paint secular government as hatred of Catholics.… Read the rest



Moroccan Theologian Says Girls Can Marry at 9 *

Sep 15th, 2008 | Filed by

‘I am a confirmed theologian and I have not made this up. It is the prophet who said it before me.’… Read the rest



Malaysia: Blogger Arrested for Dissent *

Sep 15th, 2008 | Filed by

Prominent anti-government campaigner accused of posting an article that insulted Islam. … Read the rest



Scott Atran on Religion in America *

Sep 14th, 2008 | Filed by

Few believe the principal point of political argument is, or ought to be, truth rather than persuasion.… Read the rest



Palin as Governor *

Sep 14th, 2008 | Filed by

Palin administration puts a premium on loyalty and secrecy; she hires friends and fires critics.… Read the rest