‘Having the right mix of strong and weak ties is an essential component of people’s quality of life.’… 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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
Armchair Warriors Pile On Jill Carroll 
Apr 8th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Ooh, I’m sitting in the Empire State Building, I’m on the front lines.… Read the rest
Translation of Polittiken Piece by Ibrahim Ramadan
Apr 8th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Organisations such as Hizb-ut-Tahrir working to control what other Moslems should believe, think, do.… Read the rest
Why Not Be a Tattletale?
Apr 8th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Sociologist Charles Tilly examines our reasons for giving reasons.… Read the rest
ID is the Logic of Ignorance, Steve Jones Says
Apr 8th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Some ID advocates need glasses; don’t they wonder about the designer?… Read the rest
Conversation and Cosmopolitanism
Apr 7th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Carlin Romano on conversation as a process of learning to live with one another.… Read the rest
Misinterpretation and Misreporting
Apr 7th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Mims, Pianka, the Discovery Institute.… Read the rest
Ignatieff Interviewed
Apr 7th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Even when cabinet ministers admit they’ve lied, nobody believes them, interviewer notes.… Read the rest
Enough With the ‘Faith Schools’ Already
Apr 7th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
National Union of Teachers says religious fundamentalists are gaining control of state schools.… Read the rest
Kanan Makiya on What’s Gone Right and Wrong
Apr 7th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The Ba’ath party was hated, but it turned out to be far more deep rooted in Iraq than we thought.… Read the rest
Only Animists Shout at Their Computers
Apr 6th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The danger here, Dennett says, lies in the sacred becoming too sacred.… Read the rest
Introduction to ‘Living Without God’ [pdf]
Apr 6th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Ronald Aronson on finding faith in disbelief.… Read the rest
On Taking the Templeton Foundation’s Dime
Apr 6th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
If you don’t think science and religion should be reconciled, qualms arise.… Read the rest
Irfan Husain on Apostasy and Liberal Attitudes
Apr 6th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Double standards can be problematic.… Read the rest
What War on Christians?
Apr 6th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Disagreement isn’t oppression.… Read the rest
André Glucksmann on Separating Truth and Belief
Apr 6th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Civilized discourse analyzes and defines matters of fact relating to knowledge, not to faith. … Read the rest
Congo Child Sorcery Abuse on the Rise
Apr 5th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
HRW: self-styled pastors use torture, beatings, denial of food to rid children of alleged sorcery . … Read the rest
Human Rights Watch on Children in D.R. Congo
Apr 5th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
War, HIV/AIDS, high school fees, accusations of sorcery increase number of street children.… Read the rest
Women Sold Into Slavery in Haryana
Apr 5th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Selective abortion has made women scarce, so they are coerced and exploited.… Read the rest
Ishtiaq Ahmed on Apostasy
Apr 5th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Are we all then to be hanged because we question dogma?… Read the rest
