For 14 weeks we were held against our will and threatened with murder and gang rape unless we agreed to marriage.… 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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
Christianity’s War on Women 
Sep 20th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
This is why AI is pro-abortion – the unnecessary deaths of thousands upon thousands of women. … Read the rest
Are ‘Evangelical Atheists’ Too Outspoken?
Sep 20th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘What disturbs us is the preposterous outcry that atheists have gone too far in their criticism of religion.’… Read the rest
Kian Tajbakhsh Released from Evin Prison
Sep 20th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Iranian government accused Tajbakhsh of spying and trying to help organise a ‘velvet revolution.’… Read the rest
Cardinal Wants Stem Cell Researchers Punished
Sep 20th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Scientists who engage in stem cell research using human embryos should be excommunicated.… Read the rest
Mo Says the Cartoon is Nothing Like Him
Sep 20th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
If people are going to commit blasphemy by portraying him, they should at least do a decent job of it.… Read the rest
Erdogan Urges End to Hijab Ban
Sep 19th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The PM’s Islamist-rooted AK Party began drafting a new constitution after its election in July.… Read the rest
Bangladesh Authorities Arrest Cartoonist
Sep 19th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
A Home Ministry statement said Arifur Rahman’s sketches ‘hurt the religious sentiments of the people.’… Read the rest
Ernst Tugendhat on Certainty
Sep 19th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The desire to be on sure ground is the relict of an authoritarian frame of mind. … Read the rest
Which Century is This?
Sep 19th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Advances in knowledge are not enough to dispel the primitive impulse to look skyward for signs and portents.… Read the rest
Saudi Women Challenge Driving Ban
Sep 18th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Conservatives argue that if women are allowed to drive, they will be able to mix freely with men. … Read the rest
Matthew Nisbet on Paul Kurtz on ‘New Atheism’
Sep 18th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
No mention of ‘the Atheist Noise Machine’ though.… Read the rest
Gen-X humanism for the Passionately Confused
Sep 18th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
R. Joseph Hoffmann says Epstein has abused his links to Harvard ‘as a shortcut to the legitimacy he craves.’… Read the rest
Nebraska State Senator Sues God
Sep 18th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Lawsuit admits God goes by many aliases, names, titles and designations; also notes defendant is ‘Omnipresent’.… Read the rest
Olivia Judson on Altruism
Sep 18th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Examples of selflessness can be found throughout the animal kingdom; why?… Read the rest
Communicating Science in a Religious America
Sep 17th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Matthew Nisbet picks another fight with ‘the New Atheists.’ Cites Paul Kurtz as predecessor. Eh?… Read the rest
PZ on Why ‘Framing’ is a Dud Idea
Sep 17th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
We can gain some quick policy advantages at the price of privileging flawed thinking. … Read the rest
No Clash Between Science and Religion – ?
Sep 17th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
When scientific evidence contradicts religious claims, believers ‘rely on faith.’… Read the rest
Reasons not to Fly Nepal Airlines
Sep 17th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Officials sacrificed two goats to appease Hindu sky god after technical problems with Boeing 757.… Read the rest
Doudou Diene on ‘Islamophobia’
Sep 17th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Some countries called for international treaty to compel states to act against any form of defamation of religion. … Read the rest
