The cartoonists and editors of the French magazine “Charlie Hebdo” were and are, as far as I can tell, secularists. They are equal opportunity offenders. Not only did they publish material that was an affront to committed Muslims, but just before this past Christmas they promoted anti-Christian, particularly, anti-Roman Catholic ideas in a cartoon depicting Mary and Jesus. They targeted any and all, with particular vitriol toward religious ideas of all faiths.
As a person of faith, I’m not especially appreciative of much of anything this magazine published, though, from what I gather, they are somewhat heroic figures in France, a much more secular nation than the U.S. However, Bill Donohue, the president of the U.S. American organization The Catholic League, claims that the editors of “Charlie Hebdo” were and are mistaken for publishing such material because it is so offensive to religious people.
The thing I find interesting, and somewhat ironic, from the position of the secularists and the Donohues of the world, is that the very notion of free speech is grounded in belief in the Creator God. The idea of rights being an endowment of the Creator is promoted in the Declaration of Independence. That document captures very well the notion that governments don’t give rights, rather, they are supposed to protect them. God is the originator of rights and these rights are universal.
This fundamental notion of freedom is founded upon the Christian notion that humans are created in the image of God and part of that image is freedom to choose. God give us the freedom to choose and we may use our freedom however we see fit. God does not necessarily approve of all our choices, yet he endows us with the freedom to make our choices.
Governments ought not curb these inherent freedoms. However, when one person’s exercise of freedom infringes on the life, liberty, or property of another, then that behavior is proscribed. Otherwise, we are free. Free speech is one of these fundamental freedoms.
Again, God might not approve and may even hold us ultimately to account for sinful words, but until that day of reckoning we are free. We humans would do well to allow persons to say whatever they want to say, as long as it doesn’t infringe upon the life, liberty, or property of another. (The famous example is that we don’t have the right to yell “Fire” in a crowded theater where that will immediately create an injurious situation for others). But, and this is important, injuring another’s “feelings” however, is licit. (The P.C. Police would do well to remember this).
You might not be pleased with someone’s speech, you may not agree, but as long as they aren’t inciting violence they are free. This is an inherently Christian idea. God gives us freedom.
So, to the secularists I say, “Have at it. Say what you want. Offend whom you want, including me.” Keep in mind that the origin of your freedom to say whatever you want to say is found in a culture that recognizes freedom of speech as an endowment from God. To the Bill Donohues of the world I say, “Relax! God is big enough and our faith is strong enough. Use your free speech to combat the ideas of others not to attack the persons who say ridiculous things.” To the radical Muslims who insist on enforcing their views on others I say, “We are not going to give up our rights for your religious sensibilities. We believe God gave us and these rights. You will not take them away. If you insist on attempting to force us to believe what you believe and behave the way you want us to behave, we have another freedom you will want to remember, the freedom to bear arms.”