Comment on: Re: Can people of different faiths co-exist?

Bigthink — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 08:50:35 +0100

How would you respond if I said there are certain things that shouldn't need forgiving in the first place? How can I, understanding that others will see this situation differently, work with them to change that goal?

The example of the comic (and teddy bear in sudan!) fit this situation. I can sort of intellectually understand why there might be a clash in the first place, based on the beliefs of people involved, but thus far all arguments I've seen justifying the reactions that brought about the clash have been amazingly weak. To me, the reactions in these situations are perfectly parallel to a situation where a group of misguided college upperclassmen brutally beat some new student who accidentally misspelled the name of their beloved institution. One can certainly see the possibility that they would revere their institution to the extent that they are offended that someone could not quite know even how to express its name in writing. But is it okay to accept their viewpoint and just try to work with it toward some end? Or even less than that, to coexist with it? Why is having a belief like that (or like believing that it is bad to depict the prophet mohammed) justified in the first place?

Can you help me understand? I feel convinced that you won't be able to, but that feeling is something I know it is very, very important to question.

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Comment on: Re: Can people of different faiths co-exist?