‘Line in the sand which indicates to people a line beyond which they cannot go.’… 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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
Racial and Religious Hatred Bill 
Jun 10th, 2005 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘For “racial hatred” substitute “racial or religious hatred”.’… Read the rest
Slightly Woolly Review of Michael Shermer Book
Jun 10th, 2005 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Woolly about Tierney book, ‘evenhandedness,’ but worth a read.… Read the rest
Blame Beethoven
Jun 10th, 2005 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Beethoven turned to narcissistic focus on composer’s own tortured soul.… Read the rest
Lethal Insanity Continues
Jun 10th, 2005 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Pope says HIV and Aids in Africa should be tackled through fidelity and abstinence, not condoms.… Read the rest
Pope Tells Africa: Keep Chaste or Die
Jun 10th, 2005 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Church’s teachings of chastity and fidelity only ‘fail safe’ ways to stop spread of Aids.… Read the rest
Women Call for Better Education for Girls Worldwide
Jun 10th, 2005 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Almost 60 million girls lack chance to go to school.… Read the rest
Radio 4 on John Mack and ‘Alien Abduction’
Jun 9th, 2005 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The stupidest, most credulous half hour you’ll ever listen to.… Read the rest
Mugabe’s ‘Urban Clean-up’ Continues
Jun 9th, 2005 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘People disappear and you don’t know what happened to them all.’… Read the rest
Religious Hatred Law
Jun 9th, 2005 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
More mischief-making claims predicted.
External Resources
- Ban ‘Life of Brian’?
‘There is a clear difference,’ says spokeswoman. But is there? - Blunkett Defends the Offence
Making it illegal to stir up hatred against people because of their religious beliefs. - Johann Hari
Even the left is reluctant to criticise religion. - Madeleine Bunting Approves
We all know religious hatred when we see it, but as a legal concept, it’s complex. - Nick Cohen
Deplores the sinister absurdity of Blunkett’s latest proposal for dealing with religious hatred. - Pisstaking Will Be Allowed
But will it? - Polly Toynbee
We must be free to criticise religion without being called racist - Rowan Atkinson Against Censorship
A veneer of tolerance concealing a snake.
Students Assault Academics
Jun 9th, 2005 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Problem more widespread than previous research had shown. … Read the rest
The Difficulties of Being a Mitigated Sceptic
Jun 9th, 2005 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Degrees of doubt and questioning don’t work with sound bites.… Read the rest
Greatest Philosopher Shortlist – Vote Now
Jun 8th, 2005 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Hume, Mill, Spinoza, Marx, Nietzsche, Wittgenstein, Aristotle, Plato?… Read the rest
Heidegger, Hölderlin, and the Ister
Jun 8th, 2005 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Film is reinvigorating a conversation among philosophers.… Read the rest
All Shall Have Prizes
Jun 8th, 2005 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
University is a consumer product and teachers are servants.… Read the rest
Alan Ryan on Harvard and its Rivals
Jun 8th, 2005 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Harvard view of MIT: a hangout for nerds and social inadequates. … Read the rest
Professor Carey Will Have His Fun
Jun 8th, 2005 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Is art merely a way for people to show off? Or is there more to it than that?… Read the rest
The PM, the Philosopher and the Stigmata
Jun 7th, 2005 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
BHL woke in the night with bleeding hands.… Read the rest
Religion in the US
Jun 7th, 2005 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Enthusiasm for influence of ‘religious leaders’ greater than in other industrialized countries.… Read the rest
Marx is not Buried Under All That Rubble
Jun 7th, 2005 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Francis Wheen on Marx’s metaphoric but piercing accuracy about the beast.… Read the rest
