Officials at the Foreign Office say the mood has changed as a result of the verdict. … 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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
Gillian Gibbons Taken to Court 
Nov 29th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘Miliband said he emphasised Britain’s respect of Islam.’ Grovel grovel.… Read the rest
‘What can’t be named Muhammad?’
Nov 29th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘What are the rules on using the name?’ Step one: wring hands. Step two: call the MCB.… Read the rest
Turkish Prosecutor Ponders The God Delusion
Nov 29th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Publisher could go on trial if the prosecutor concludes the book incites religious hatred and insults religious values.… Read the rest
Tom Clark on The Specter of Scientism
Nov 29th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Tikkun also worries about the supposed dangers of scientism and the need for a spiritual way of knowing.… Read the rest
Indian Government Will Shelter Nasreen – If
Nov 29th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Expected that the guests will refrain from activities and expressions that may hurt the sentiments of our people.… Read the rest
Normblog on Human Dignity
Nov 29th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘Degrade’ carries on its face that there is a standard in light of which some person is being reduced.… Read the rest
Gillian Gibbons Now Charged With Insulting Religion
Nov 28th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Teacher charged with insulting religion, inciting hatred and showing contempt for religious beliefs. … Read the rest
Jean Kazez on Ishiguro on Compliance
Nov 28th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Why do his clones comply? Why do the women of Saudi Arabia?… Read the rest
Who’s Afraid of ‘Soulless Scientism’?
Nov 28th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
We alone among the animals have the power to create a straw man and spend an entire evening knocking it down. … Read the rest
Fundamentalist Christianity in the US Military
Nov 28th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Many Dominionist soldiers want the US to invade Iran, thereby triggering the Rapture.… Read the rest
Bunglawala Refused to Condemn Stoning
Nov 28th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
It had happened during the lifetime of the Prophet, he said, ‘so you are asking me to condemn my Prophet.’… Read the rest
Translating Stoppard in Moscow
Nov 27th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
19th-century liberal ideas can sound dangerously modern on the Moscow stage of today.… Read the rest
The Teddy-bear: Readers’ Views
Nov 27th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The children themselves should be punished for having chosen the name of our great Prophet for a lowly bear. … Read the rest
Scientific Method: Evidence, not Faith
Nov 27th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Paul Davies sets up a flimsy straw man and proceeds to flog it mercilessly. … Read the rest
Golden Compass Trilogy is Atheist
Nov 27th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
No it’s not, it’s liberal theist. Which is worse?… Read the rest
Teddy-bear Crime All a Misunderstanding
Nov 27th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
There was no apparent intention to offend Islamic sensibilities, Bunglawala said.… Read the rest
Jesus and Mo on the Etiquette of Flouncing
Nov 26th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
When facts are offensive, reality should show more sensitivity.… Read the rest
The Taslima Nasreen Opportunity for India
Nov 26th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
When India banned The Satanic Verses, it breathed life into the demon of competitive intolerance.… Read the rest
Sudan: Teacher Arrested in Teddy-bear Fuss
Nov 26th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
She let the children vote to name teddy-bear ‘Muhammad.’ Could get 40 lashes, 6 months; or worse.… Read the rest
