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Home , Religious satire

anglican journal • march 2015 3

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Rabbi Reuben Rabbi Jarrod Grover The Rev. Dr. Carol (Ret.) Bishop Imam Imtiaz Imam Syed Poupko Wood Michael Ingham Ahmed Soharwardy

f r e e d o m o f e x p r e s s i o n v e r s u s r e l i g i o u s s e n s i b i l i t i e s : What’s the balance? Diana Swift of the institution or its leaders, it is perfectly okay. N LIGHT OF January’s tragic events There is no unlimited right to freedom in Paris, Western democracies are of speech and no absolute right to free- Ireflecting on one of their core values: dom. To exist, freedom needs self-imposed the right to freedom of expression even if restraints, and democracy requires a that freedom offends people. A legacy of consensus based on mutual respect. What the 18th-century Enlightenment, this value we have in the Paris cartoons is a misuse has given Westerners wide latitude to mock of freedom...it is secular fundamentalism social institutions from the monarchy to the that insists on the right to cause offence in I recall church. the name of freedom. Religious is not But after 17 people were killed in attacks, off-limits when it serves the public good by [a cartoon] including staff at satirical magazine Charlie exposing hypocrisy and causing us to live showing“ Hebdo, some are asking whether a line up to our ideals in a better way, but when its descending should be drawn—is unbridled freedom to purpose is deliberately to offend, how is that from Mount pillory worth the sometimes brutal different from hatred? Sinai with ’s consequences? Others counter: is respect for commandments religion merely code for fear of religion? Imam Imtiaz Ahmed, Ahmadiyya Mosque, The Anglican Journal put two questions Ottawa on the stone to six religious leaders representing the There is a line, however, that most first- 5Marchers hold I am hurt when a sacred person is ridi- tablets. Moses Jewish, Christian and Muslim faiths: How world countries recognize—when depic- panels depicting culed or belittled—be it Moses, Jesus or says, “The good do you feel/react when your religion or its tion falls into the category of hate speech the eyes of slain Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon all of most revered figures are satirized? Should or incitement to violence. I would draw the news is, I got Charlie Hebdo them), it is equally offensive. Muslims hold respecting religious sensibilities trump line there, but it is very unclear where free ’em down to 10. editor Stéphane every prophet very near and dear to our ? speech becomes hate speech. It’s a constant The bad news is, Charbonier. hearts, and any satirical depiction of them photo: charles tension we must deal with, especially in the is offensive to us. I recently suggested that adultery’s still platiau/reuters wake of the Paris attacks, but that does not Rabbi Reuben Poupko, rabbi, Beth Israel no caricature or satirical cartoon of any re- in.” I laughed mean we should get rid of the tension. Beth Aaron Congregation, Montreal ligious figure should be published, as it can out loud. It depends on the nature of the satire. Some potentially harm peaceful coexistence. That — Rabbi Reuben images of can be hurtful and of- The Rev. Dr. Carol Wood, ecumenical being said, this does not give anyone the Poupko, co-chair, fensive. But in society, no one has the right chaplain, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont. right to take the law into his hands and start Canadian Rabbinic never to be offended. Sometimes you are It is hurtful when Jesus and the central killing and committing atrocities against Caucus and rabbi, wrong to be offended. And some religious parts of our faith such as the eucharist are mankind. Beth Israel Beth cartoons can be genuinely funny. I recall one belittled. But such occasions also call us Freedom, whether freedom of religion Aaron Congregation, showing Moses descending from Mount Si- to self-examination and awareness of our or freedom of expression, is a cherished Montreal nai with God’s commandments on the stone social location, our own biases and our Canadian value. teaches us not to say tablets. Moses says, “The good news is, I got need for repentance for the perpetuation of anything about any sacred person of any ’em down to 10. The bad news is, adultery’s stereotypes and misconceptions about other religion that could hurt the sentiments of still in.” I laughed out loud. faith traditions. Such an experience did hap- its followers. We already have laws in place When religion is mocked in a secular pen to me in a public venue with a comment to prevent hate speech, libel and slander, society, it’s not against the law, and 2015 from someone equating the eucharist with so I don’t think freedom of expression has is hardly the first year religion has been cannibalism. to be sacrificed to accommodate religious satirized. Blasphemy is not a crime, and it’s Freedom of speech is a privilege exer- sensibilities. I believe both are important hard to make the case that laws restricting cised in the context of community. Satiriz- and can coexist. speech—even hate speech—are in the long ing religious figures or doctrines runs the run beneficial since they turn the perpetra- risk of alienating communities, fostering Imam Syed Soharwardy, executive imam, tors into martyrs. This is the price of living stereotypes and polarizing religious groups. Al Madinah Islamic Assembly, Calgary in a secular state: we must learn to live with But if there were exemptions to criticism When someone insults Islam, it bothers me; our most precious ideals and beliefs being made for some people, it seems we would it is quite disturbing. But either he does not mocked. Ultimately the benefits of free not be a democracy. Throughout history know Islam or he has a hateful disagree- speech far outweigh the drawbacks. there have been religious leaders, like Jim ment with Islam. So it is our duty to have a Jones of the People’s Temple, who have dialogue with that person and educate him. Rabbi Jarrod Grover, rabbi, Beth Tikvah clearly caused harm to their followers. Respectful disagreement is absolutely fine. Synagogue, Toronto Balance between freedom of expression Disparaging depictions of Christ bother For me personally, seeing my faith mocked and respect for religion can be approached me so much I feel sorry for my Christian can be very angering. I feel the same way through dialogue and engagement. brethren. And while I cannot make fun of any person would when something valuable the Torah or the gospel, non-Muslims are to them is not being treated respectfully. (Ret.) Bishop Michael Ingham, former mocking us, knowing that the Qur’an pro- Judaic teaching has little to say about this. bishop, Anglican diocese of New hibits us from responding in the same tone. But though freedom of expression is some- Westminster, Vancouver In a free society, people have the right times hurtful, it’s the price we pay for living If religious criticism is intended deliberately to offend, but people do not have the right in a vibrant and prosperous democracy to offend, to vilify or to slander, it is not to incite hatred or to stereotype an entire that allows our most cherished values to be acceptable and I would be outraged. And community. When you depict Muhammad questioned. I have Mormon friends who not just for my own religious faith, but as a terrorist, 1.6 billion Muslims worldwide are deeply offended by the satirical Broad- also for others’. I am not against satire. are considered terrorists, when 99.9 per cent way musical The , but they I am against hatred. If satire is intended of them are peaceful. We must use freedom absolutely defend the producers’ right to put respectfully to challenge or question of speech with responsibility. That is the on the show. a fundamental , or to expose the price of keeping a civil society. g