Church leaders have argued that such laws could seriously restrict ‘religious freedom.’… 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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
Picture of Jesus Can Stay in Courthouse 
Sep 13th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Picture is now shown with 15 other people in legal history, including Mohammed with Koran.… Read the rest
Jonathan Haidt on Moral Psychology and Religion
Sep 13th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Some very interesting stuff, some very dubious stuff.… Read the rest
PZ Myers on Haidt on Morality and Religion
Sep 13th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Haidt makes important questions vanish by simply equating religion with moral systems.… Read the rest
Atheist Group Protests Censorship
Sep 13th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
RC League for Religious and Civil Rights fussed about Kathy Griffin’s refusal to thank Jesus.… Read the rest
Normblog on Why Truth Matters
Sep 13th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
If there is no truth, there is no crime. There are only different stories.… Read the rest
Buddha Carving in Pakistan Attacked
Sep 12th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The area has seen a rise in attacks on ‘un-Islamic’ targets in recent months. … Read the rest
Shock-horror: Critics of Islam on Facebook
Sep 12th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
NY Times is confused about what constitutes ‘hate speech.’… Read the rest
Martin Amis on the Passion for Unreason
Sep 12th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Crush reason, kill reason, and anything and everything seems possible.… Read the rest
Tristram Hunt Frets at ‘New Atheist Orthodoxy’
Sep 12th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Foolish atheists fail to understand that Protestantism caused the Enlightenment.… Read the rest
A Woman Among Warlords
Sep 12th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Director Eva Mulvad films the election campaign of Malalai Joya in Afghanistan.… Read the rest
The Long and Noble Tradition of ‘Faith’ Schools
Sep 11th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The noble thing to do would be to stop taking public money for the purpose of indoctrinating children.… Read the rest
A C Grayling on Ghettoes of Superstition
Sep 11th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Government’s desire for social cohesion will be negated by keeping children in competing ghettoes of superstition. … Read the rest
Secularist Ignored by Academy Steering Group
Sep 11th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Steering group for C of E-sponsored academy refuses to talk to secularist critic.… Read the rest
Launch of the Committee for Ex-Muslims
Sep 11th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Similar organisations have started across Europe; reps from the UK and Germany will join the launch.… Read the rest
Women’s Education Pre and Post Taliban
Sep 11th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
One of the Taliban’s edicts in 1997 called for a nationwide ban on public education for all women and girls.… Read the rest
What Would Jesus Surf?
Sep 10th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Welcome to the Jesus Surf Classic, for those who are into waves, God, baggy shorts, and crucifixes.… Read the rest
‘Faith’ Schools Will Improve Cohesion
Sep 10th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Or separation. One of those.… Read the rest
Arthur Danto on Richard Rorty
Sep 10th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The writing is a kind of performance, the purpose of which is to dramatize philosophy’s impotence. … Read the rest
Hussein Ibish on Sense, Nonsense and Strategy
Sep 10th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Why do some on the Arab left support the Muslim far right?… Read the rest
