Much of the English-language journalism in global news services is generated in increasingly secular societies, and in newsrooms, places that lean towards scepticism and irreverence. But the world is not so secular. Faith and its teachings and rituals play central roles in many lives. A readers’ editor sees how offence over sincerely held religious beliefs can be easily given, and easily taken. Around Easter, for example, Christians might complain about cartoons in which the burdens of a politician are depicted through references to the crucifixion of Jesus. The cartoonist will typically be thinking topically and pictorially, alluding perhaps to great works of western art. There may be no intention to offend. But a readers’ editor soon hears about the outrage or dismay felt by those for whom the New Testament is core belief and Easter a holy time. Examples could be given for Islam and Judaism too. Hate speech leads to violence. Why would liberals defend it? | Nesrine Malik Read more A free-speech scholar, Eric Barendt, summarised one church’s argument in favour of offences against religion and public worship: that “society is entitled to, or perhaps even should, protect a sense of the sacred. Something valuable is lost […]
