I have an old poster on my living room wall by Ben Shahn. It includes this quote from British Liberal statesman John Morley, “You have not converted a man because you have silenced him.”
I thought about this quote when I first heard about the attack on the Charlie Hebdo magazine office in Paris yesterday.
I am frozen in feelings of anger, sadness, and disgust. Twelve lives were taken for no reason that a rational, compassionate person can possibly support. I add my voice to the other expressions of outrage. My emotional reaction sees theistic religion, and Islam in particular, as an atavistic way of thinking that is keeping us from realizing our human potential. Then I calm down and reflect more on the horror.
I cannot condemn religion, or Islam, for the actions of these men. Even though they were reported to shout “Allahu Akbar” and “We have avenged the prophet” as they shot people down. Condemning religion, or Islam, does a profound disservice to the millions of religious persons, including many millions that practice Islam, who do not engage in or support violent acts.
I can condemn the dogmatic religious views that contributed to their actions. It is wrong, wrong, wrong! It is wicked and evil. These actions cannot be justified. Yet the situation is messy – complex. Although I do not pretend to know what motivated these three gunmen, their actions were not taken in a vacuum. Actions are situated in complicated historical, economic, and cultural contexts. My own country uses guns and bombs to kill those that it disagrees with – with impunity.
In my mind violence is never justified. Killing someone because their cartoons offended you is absurd – if it wasn’t so horrible. Killing with bombs and drones is also horrible and only perpetuates violence. Everyone must end violence as a legitimate means of settling differences. Until we do, the seeds of our own violent acts will continue to bear violent fruit.
No one that I have read has suggested that we should be cowed by violence, or threats of violence. The courage shown by the people who continued to work at Charlie Hebdo after their office was destroyed by a firebomb is laudable.
The response to the Charlie Hebdo attack has generated many thoughtful pieces from diverse sources.
I will close by referring you to the posting at the International Humanist and Ethical Union’s website:
http://iheu.org/iheu-statement-on-charlie-hebdo-attack/
The IHEU also modified the international humanist symbol, in solidarity with those killed in yesterday’s violence:
I still have a lot of processing to do.
Randy Best, Leader
Ethical Humanist Society of the Triangle
David Moffat says
Works of art, architecture, and music were and are inspired by religion, yet not all members of those religions are artists, architects, or composers. The Inquisition and the Holocaust were inspired by religion, yet not all co religionists agreed. If you can deny facts like these, then you can deny that the Charlie Hebdo massacre was inspired by Islam, orthodox Islam. Religions provide the inspiration and the rationale for all kinds of behavior, good and bad, and religions differ. Islam inspires beheadings and stonings, for example, while Christianity (these days) does not.
Chris Kaman says
Good point! Here’s a great essay from a French, Muslim philosopher who hits this issue head on:
http://israelseen.com/2014/11/17/abdennour-bidar-french-muslim-philosopher-says-islam-has-given-birth-to-monsters/
It’s refreshing to hear the voice of reason call out to the Muslim community.
Chris Kaman says
Here’s a link to a good video by the BBC about this problem in Islam. (Scroll down the post to watch the video.)
https://whyevolutionistrue.wordpress.com/2015/01/17/finally-a-bbc-show-that-doesnt-whitewash-islam/
Timothy Travis says
Here is a link to Jerry Coyne’s take-away to the Charlie Hebdo murders.from his website; Why Evolution is True.
-Of course, I am posting this because I agree.
http://whyevolutionistrue.wordpress.com/2015/01/08/the-paris-murders-catholic-leagues-bill-donoghue-gets-it-wrong-new-yorkers-george-packer-gets-it-right/
Jack van Dijk says
Murder in any form is abhorrent, be it in the name of religion or done as an execution. Some of the cartoons on the pages of the Charlie Brown newspaper were horribly racist and insulting.
Throwing a five year old girl from a bridge in Florida, she was killed, is IMHO worse, my granddaughter Madeleine, is five, I took her to school this morning, thinking about the girl in Florida. I managed not to cry about things like this or a Newton massacre where one of the kids name also was Madeleine. In my humble opinion.