Monthly Archives: October 2013

‘Religious Freedom’ (Again)

Posted on October 31, 2013 by Andrew Stuttaford

The fact that the current clutch of campaigners for ‘religious freedom’ (brought together by their opposition to Obamacare’s contraception mandate) has adopted Thomas More, a less than admirable proto-Dzerzhinsky, as a symbol of freedom of conscience, a principle for which … Continue reading →

Posted in politics | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

No Idle Hands Here

Posted on October 25, 2013 by Andrew Stuttaford

The Devil has been busy again, but Rick Santorum is on the case. Right Wing Watch (I know, I know) reports: Rick Santorum is asking you to do your part to free movie theatres from the Devil’s clutches by purchasing … Continue reading →

Posted in Religion | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Open That Needle’s Eye!

Posted on October 19, 2013 by Andrew Stuttaford

One of the things that I have always appreciated about Christianity is its seemingly infinite capacity for syncretism. In its own nutty, hopelessly kitsch way, this is rather splendid: And it beats Pope Francis’s rehashed Peronism any day. H/t: The … Continue reading →

Posted in Religion | Tagged | 2 Comments

Left-Right synergy that could have been

Posted on October 16, 2013 by David Hume

This is not the time to be talking about Left-Right alliances. I know. But this piece by Kevin Drum got my attention. He’s responding to the fact that asthma inhalers are very expensive because of the way pharmaceutical companies have … Continue reading →

Posted in Medicine | Tagged | 6 Comments

Asimov!

Posted on October 12, 2013 by Andrew Stuttaford

Maria Popova has written an interesting piece on Isaac Asimov’s attitude towards religion. Here’s the great man himself: I have never, not for one moment, been tempted toward religion of any kind. The fact is that I feel no spiritual … Continue reading →

Posted in culture | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

That’s all Folks

Posted on October 8, 2013 by Andrew Stuttaford

Include me in the ranks of those who are skeptical about what the US is trying to do in Syria. This particular analysis, however, forms no part of my thinking: Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) over the weekend accused President Obama … Continue reading →

Posted in politics, Religion | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

For the Children (Not)

Posted on October 6, 2013 by Andrew Stuttaford

Muscular dystrophy is an inalienable human right (or something). The Daily Telegraph reports: A group of 34 European politicians, including eight British MPs and peers, has signed a declaration attacking plans which will make the UK the first country in … Continue reading →

Posted in science | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Teed Off

Posted on October 5, 2013 by Andrew Stuttaford

Cross-posted on Ricochet. The Tab reports: [The London School of Economics] has sparked a free speech row after banning atheist students from wearing t-shirts which depicted Jesus and the Prophet Mohammed. Two members of the uni’s atheist society were threatened … Continue reading →

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‘Religious Freedom’ (Again)

Posted on October 5, 2013 by Andrew Stuttaford

The Daily Mail: Two teenage Muslim pupils have been put into ‘isolation’ and banned from lessons after refusing to shave off their beards for religious reasons. Mount Carmel Roman Catholic High School, in Accrington, Lancashire, has said the two 14-year-olds … Continue reading →

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The Pope and His Politics

Posted on October 2, 2013 by Andrew Stuttaford

Cross-posted on the Corner: Kathryn, I was interested to read this passage from that new interview with the Pope: Personally I think so-called unrestrained liberalism only makes the strong stronger and the weak weaker and excludes the most excluded. We … Continue reading →

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