‘Spiritual committees.’ Rabbis. Modesty. Obscurity. Result: women Photoshopped out of pictures.… 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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
Amartya Sen on Imperial Illusions 
Feb 24th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
How tidy and how regular were the processes that led to the emergence of the largest empire in history?… Read the rest
Niall Ferguson Disputes Amartya Sen
Feb 24th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘Throughout Empire, I make it clear that I am on the side of Adam Smith, not Robert Clive.’… Read the rest
Conservatives are not Attracted to Academe
Feb 23rd, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘The personal priorities of those on the left are more compatible with pursuing a Ph.D.’… Read the rest
Julian Baggini on Žižek on Violence
Feb 23rd, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Whatever the received wisdom is, Žižek postulates the opposite. And repeat.… Read the rest
Hitchens on Anti-Semitism
Feb 23rd, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Garden-variety racists seldom suspect the objects of their dislike of harboring a demonic plan for world domination. … Read the rest
Cartoonist Kurt Westergaard is Homeless
Feb 23rd, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Left home because of death threat, kicked out of hotel because of security concerns.… Read the rest
Flemming Rose Talks to Spiegel Online
Feb 23rd, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
This is a global struggle for the right to free speech; people are trying to intimidate and silence critics of religion.… Read the rest
Nigeria: Sharia Commissioner v HRW
Feb 22nd, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Urges Federal Government: always seek the opinion of leaders of all religions before signing international agreements.… Read the rest
Cardinal Tells Catholic Hospital What To Do
Feb 22nd, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Cardinal intervened after quarrels over ethical code banning abortions and contraception.… Read the rest
Jesus Finds Reformed Epistemology
Feb 22nd, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
God has given us a sensus divinitatus: a reliable belief-forming mechanism. Handy!… Read the rest
UN: Free Speech Should Respect Religion
Feb 22nd, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘Freedom of expression should be exercised responsibly and in a way that respects all religious beliefs.’… Read the rest
Yale Sex Week Glosses Over the Reality of Porn
Feb 22nd, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Yale is accepting the media-generated sugar-coated image of the porn industry as glamorous, fun and cool.… Read the rest
Southall Black Sisters Threatened with Closure
Feb 21st, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Ealing Council has decided there is no longer a need for specialist services for minority women.… Read the rest
Specialist Refuges for Women Are at Risk
Feb 21st, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
One organisation under threat is Southall Black Sisters; Ealing council plans to take away its core funding.… Read the rest
Archbish Says Sharia Can be Appalling
Feb 21st, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
But he repeated his assertion that it is ‘rooted in the sense of doing God’s will in the ordinary things of life.’… Read the rest
Scientific Study of Religious Belief Launched
Feb 21st, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Oxford researchers have received a £1.9 million grant for study of the cognitive science of religion.… Read the rest
Polkinghorne on Science and Religion
Feb 21st, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘One of the most persuasive and liberating understanding is that it is the divine mind that lies behind the world.’… Read the rest
Parvin Ardalan Wins Olof Palme Prize
Feb 20th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Iranian women’s rights activists in Iran and abroad are celebrating.… Read the rest
Tina Beattie on the Archbishop
Feb 20th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
ABC wants to open up a conversation between the insights of postmodern philosophy and lawyers.… Read the rest
