In which the 55-year-old man allegedly has sex with a 12-year-old “plural wife.”… 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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
US: church attendance down among women 
Aug 3rd, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
But belief in the devil is up.… Read the rest
Israel’s secular liberals fight back
Aug 3rd, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Because of the failure of the Oslo peace process, it no longer had a way to defend liberal values and to demand accountability from government.… Read the rest
Christian midwife sues over hospital dress rules
Aug 3rd, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
She refuses to wear scrub trousers because the bible says women can’t wear “men’s clothing.”… Read the rest
Ireland: cardinal tells sport bosses what to do
Aug 2nd, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Sean Brady has asked GAA clubs to stop scheduling games at the same time as Sunday morning Mass.… Read the rest
Review of BBC coverage of science
Aug 2nd, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
In 2010 the BBC Trust launched a review of the impartiality and accuracy of BBC science coverage. Here it is.… Read the rest
Polly Toynbee on Tea Party thinking in Britain
Aug 2nd, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
A taste of the Tea Party arrives on these shores in the peculiar paranoia of the climate-change deniers.… Read the rest
Nick Cohen on Britain as the capital of hate-talk
Aug 2nd, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Both right and left are attracted to “transgressive” ideas and people. They’re playing with fire.… Read the rest
Mexico: gay ministry under Vatican “scrutiny”
Aug 2nd, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Bishop is trying to make gays feel welcome. Well we can’t have that.… Read the rest
Vatican to issue “strong response” to Ireland
Aug 2nd, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
In its response, the Vatican will point out that it is the victim here, and the Irish government has a hell of a nerve.… Read the rest
Afghanistan: “militants” hang a child of 8
Aug 1st, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
His father, a police officer, had refused to give them a vehicle.… Read the rest
Mina Ahadi and Maryam Namazie to Ayaan Hirsi Ali
Aug 1st, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
With the advent of the Arab Spring, multiculturalism and cultural relativism are dead. This is an important strike against Islamism.… Read the rest
Resist the far-Right in all its versions
Aug 1st, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Maryam Namazie points out that Islamism and the anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim European far-Right amount to the same thing.… Read the rest
Student, age 11, challenges fundamentalist
Aug 1st, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Defends secular ethics classes in public schools. Well done, Charlie Fine.… Read the rest
Egypt: Islamists take over demonstrations
Aug 1st, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Speakers at the Salafist rally egged on young bearded men to continue jihad and described them as “God’s army to implement God’s will on earth.”… Read the rest
Still no sign of any humility at the Vatican
Jul 31st, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
It can never again be acceptable for the church to undermine the Republic’s laws.… Read the rest
More hate mail for atheists
Jul 31st, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
“I love Jesus, and the cross and if you don’t, I hope someone rapes you!” says smiley woman.… Read the rest
Loving Christians respond to atheist WTC case
Jul 31st, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Nail them to that cross then display it. Kill them all and let them see for themselves that there is a God. Shoot them. Shoot to kill.… Read the rest
Quebec spa detox treatment leaves woman dead
Jul 30th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The “treatment” consisted of being wrapped in mud, plastic, blankets, and a cardboard box for several hours with no water.… Read the rest
Edzard Ernst calls P. Charles a snake-oil salesman
Jul 30th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
A tincture of dandelion and artichoke doesn’t do anything to detoxify your body and therefore it is a snake oil. … Read the rest
