Religion

trotsky

(49,533 posts) Tue Jun 2, 2015, 05:21 PM Jun 2015

Could Charlie Hebdo have been prevented if France allowed religious instruction?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/religion/could-charlie-hebdo-have-been-prevented-if-france-allowed-religious-instruction-commentary/2015/06/02/15513126-0957-11e5-951e-8e15090d64ae_story.html

The Charlie Hebdo cartoons and January’s subsequent rally of support for the satirical magazine revealed France’s full support for freedom of expression. This freedom includes satire: portraits mocking Muhammad, sometimes clothed, sometimes nude. But while France shares an enthusiasm for “free speech” found among other nations, it lacks one aspect of culture found in most countries: religious education.

With empty churches and a school curriculum that excludes religion, France does not educate its citizens about religion. Instead, the French champion secularism, or “laicite,” most simply the separation of religion and societal institutions.

...

While some might interpret the magazine’s action as free speech, others might argue that Charlie Hebdo endangered innocent citizens by prompting an attack after repeated warnings. In either case, the free expression occurred in a society largely uneducated on religious issues.

Would religious education have altered the response of the French people? Might it have tailored the cartoons in Charlie Hebdo? Would it have stopped the Kouachi brothers?

Sure, let's put the blame on the open, free, secular society.

Once again we see the finger of blame pointed at the victims of this tragedy, and not the murderers. Has anyone asked whether educating the Kouachi brothers more about the nature of free expression and secularism being more important than religious belief might have also prevented this tragedy?

6 replies

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Highlight:

Could Charlie Hebdo have been prevented if France allowed religious instruction? (Original Post) trotsky Jun 2015 OP

try this: Warren Stupidity Jun 2015 #1

The problem wasn't non-education Cartoonist Jun 2015 #2

Who's this idiot? Mass Jun 2015 #3

I know, it's nuts. trotsky Jun 2015 #4

IF France allowed religious instruction? Yorktown Jun 2015 #5

Charlie Hebdo was about more than Muhammad Lordquinton Jun 2015 #6

Warren Stupidity

(48,181 posts)

1. try this:

Reply to trotsky (Original post)

Tue Jun 2, 2015, 05:36 PM

Jun 2015

While some might interpret the woman's action as free speech, others might argue that the woman endangered everyone in her family by prompting an attack after repeated warnings by her husband to shut up.

Would anyone here make that argument?

Or:
While some might interpret the demonstrator's action as free speech, others might argue that the demonstrators endangered everyone in his area by prompting an attack after repeated warnings by the police to disperse.

Would anyone here make that argument? Oh wait, of course they would, it is done here on DU every time there is another police riot.

Cartoonist

(7,326 posts)

2. The problem wasn't non-education

Reply to trotsky (Original post)

Tue Jun 2, 2015, 05:44 PM

Jun 2015

It was religious education. The Kouachi brothers were taught to kill by their religion.

Mass

(27,315 posts)

3. Who's this idiot?

Reply to trotsky (Original post)

Tue Jun 2, 2015, 06:49 PM

Jun 2015

Sorry, I intrude in this section. I normally do not participate here, but I am puzzled by this title?

Any parent who wants to give religious education in France can do so. Simply, just as it is not given in public school in the US, it is not given in public school in the States.

In addition, in the equivalent of 6th and 7th grade, the tenants of the 3 majors monotheist religions are taught to all kids. So, this article puzzles me totally. This guy has no idea of what he is talking about.

But, yes, it is true that religion is not as important in France than it is in this country and tends to be a private matter and anti-clericalism is an old tradition from the Enlightenment.

trotsky

(49,533 posts)

4. I know, it's nuts.

Reply to Mass (Reply #3)

Wed Jun 3, 2015, 09:10 AM

Jun 2015

Basically it's just another finger-wagger who wants to blame the horrible secular West for offending extremist Muslims. The nasty stuff lying underneath that implies that Muslims can't control themselves, that western democracies need to alter themselves in order to accommodate the extremist beliefs. I find this unacceptable, and I think it would lead to dangerous places.

Yorktown

(2,884 posts)

5. IF France allowed religious instruction?

Reply to trotsky (Original post)

Wed Jun 3, 2015, 12:21 PM

Jun 2015

Part of the history class compulsory syllabus:
• Secondary one: Judaism, Christianity
• Secondary two: Islam

http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enseignement_du_fait_religieux_en_France

Good thing the Washington Post checked its facts better about the Watergate.

Lordquinton

(7,886 posts)

6. Charlie Hebdo was about more than Muhammad

Reply to trotsky (Original post)

Wed Jun 3, 2015, 04:11 PM

Jun 2015

They went after a wide variety of offendors, all right wing. They took on their version of the tea path, they went after the pope. This thing about Muhammad was an ongoing issue wi a particular group of extremists that had tried and failed before to silence the paper.

This isn't at all like a draw Muhammed day thing, and it sickens me to read all these articles reducing it to that. The pope's responce about how natural it was makes a whole lot more sense when you realize they exposed him too.

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