Freedom of Speech



"In highbrow circles, ridiculing Jews is Nazism, ridiculing blacks is racism, ridiculing feminists is sexism, but ridiculing Christians is freedom of speech."

(William Reel writing in the The Times - taken from my good friend Peter Graystone's book: Ready Salted)

[Ironic smile]

Comments

Anonymous said…
Oh I quite agree – tho’ I would question the use of the word ‘highbrow’ – ‘middle-class liberal’ would probably be more accurate. I certainly opposed the screening of ‘Jerry Springer the Opera’ on the BBC a few years ago – even though I saw it at the Cambridge Theatre, here in London, and thoroughly enjoyed it. I suppose I should clarify my position, I was not adverse to the screening of this piece of musical theatre, I was adverse to the fact the BBC would not have done so if the musical had had a Muslim theme.

Thankfully there seems to be some common sense on this issue now. I follow my home town’s local rag on the Internet (The Rochdale Observer) and noted the following story: http://www.rochdaleobserver.co.uk/news/s/1092934_blind_mans_anger_at_taxi_rejections. Here two Muslim taxi drivers had refused to carry a blind man and his guide-dog, the reason given when the case came to court, being that dogs are seen as unclean by Muslims. Thankfully the pair were fined – if you are providing services to the public then you have to provide an equity of service after all (Homophobic owners of B&Bs beware!!).

Yet I do find it odd that religious people (of whatever religion) become inflamed when their religion is ridiculed – so what? Surely, if the truth of the religion is self-evident (or failing that adequately transmitted and lived out by its followers) then the religion itself should possess all that is needed to overcome its derision?

I don’t know if this is a real quote (oh I hope it is...), but Dawkin quotes it in ‘The God Delusion’ when discussing the supposed peaceful nature of religion. It was reported as a slogan used at a rally condemning the cartoons of Mohammed:

“Behead those who say Islam is a violent religion.” If irony like this exists, then religion need never fear being ridiculed, it is able to do it for itself!

But in reality Reel has a point – religions should be treated equally. Whether they should be awarded the same rights as minorities or groups that have a historical record of oppression is another matter. Racism, sexism, homophobia etc. can be seen to be little else than prejudice and ignorance. Whereas there is plenty of evidence to suggest religion has ON OCCASION deserved to be ridiculed – usually because of hypocrisy. On such occasions then religion has managed a home goal. In the main religion deserves a degree of respect and tolerance. Yet this needs to be doled out with equity – not along partisan lines more favoured denominations or sects or religions.

TTFN:

J-P
February 5, 2009 at 8:40 PM
Dawg said…
Boy ain't that the truth!

But don't let that stop you over there my friend!!

Keep up the good work in the Lord!

Dawg
February 6, 2009 at 2:01 AM
Question of Identity said…
J-P
I am not complaining about the ridicule (merely observing), it is to be be expected. There is more justification of ridicule if we are not striving to 'walk the walk'- but the ridicule tends to be more about belief than acting out our faith.
Neil
February 6, 2009 at 12:00 PM
Question of Identity said…
Wayne

The gates of hell will not prevail in its attempts to stop me revealing the good news of Jesus' redemption - never mind a bit of ridicule! Actually it is the battle between those gates and the gates made of pearl that motivates me.

Neil
February 6, 2009 at 12:13 PM
Anonymous said…
Neil

Oh I quite agree - people's belief should be respected - but there will always be a hierarchy of oppression and there will always be the tendency to see one’s own religion as a special case. Yet is it surprising that there is this ridicule? Wasn’t it foretold?: "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matt 5: 11 NIV)

It seems to me that when Christianity becomes respectable is when it becomes flabby and ineffectual. The dynamism of early Christianity took at bit of a nosedive after the First Council of Nicaea (325AD), once it became the religion of Constantine and thus the Roman Empire. Christianity, in the West (excluding the US) is perhaps just in on one of those doldrums - in some ways it is better you are fulfilling this Beatitude – it could be that you’re getting things right!

J-P
February 7, 2009 at 5:40 PM
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