Come to daddy, says David Cameron: political language unmasked
Critical discourse analyst Johnny Unger looks at the rhetorical tricks used today in the Conservative leader's conference speech.
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Britain’s fear of being seen as a soft touch has led to inhumane asylum policies
Theresa May's immigration bill continues a worrying trend pursued by all political parties, writes Samira Shackle.
Vatican Bank publishes accounts for the first time, and other stories – our morning round-up
Vatican bank publishes accounts for the first time in history In the latest attempt of Pope Francis to increase Vatican’s accountability, the Bank revealed that its earnings for 2012 were…
No more Asteroid Watch: US government shut-down hits NASA
Until the Congress can reach an agreement, NASA's research will remain at a standstill
Scientists solve volcano mystery, and other stories – our morning round-up
13th century volcano mystery solved? Scientists suggest that the Samalas volcano on Indonesia’s Lombok Island to be the previously unidentified source of the largest volcanic eruption in the last 3,700…
Is the faith schools debate ‘unnecessarily overheated’?
A new report suggests that while faith schools do favour middle class families, claims that they damage social cohesion are wide of the mark
Why Irish schoolchildren should be taught about atheism
Our plans will counter discrimination against secular parents, writes Michael Nugent of Atheist Ireland
Islamist gunmen kill 40 in Nigeria college attack, and other stories – our morning round up
Gunmen kill students as they sleep in Nigerian college Militants thought to belong to the Islamist organisation Boko Haram killed around 40 male students on Sunday in an attack on…
Irish schoolchildren to learn about atheism
In a 10 lesson course into non-belief, Irish primary school pupils will be taught about atheism – but not taught atheism
A wake-up call to non-religious students
At the start of a new academic year, Rory Fenton calls for non-religious students to resist the tide of religious privilege on campus
Water on Mars, and other stories – our morning round-up
Nasa’s Curiosity rover finds water in Martian soil Each cubic foot of the fine-grained Martian soil contains around two pints of liquid water, Nasa scientists confirm. (Guardian) Climate change report:…
Statements of an ex-Pope
This week Pope Benedict XVI broke his seven-month silence to deny covering up child abuse in the Church. Can we expect more, and should a "Pope Emeritus" be saying anything…
The trouble with fatwas
As reports of the declaration of "sexual jihad" in Syria show, bizarre clerical pronouncements discredit Islam and distort non-Muslim perceptions of the faith. Riazat Butt calls for some sanity
Scottish census reveals rise in non-religious population
The results of the 2011 survey show growing numbers of Scottish non-believers alongside falling numbers of Christians
Archbishop says Christians suffering mass martyrdom, and other stories – our morning round-up
Christians now suffering mass martyrdom, says Archbishop of Canterbury After a bomb attack on a church killed 85 in Peshawar, Pakistan, Justin Welby warns of the violence faced by Christians…