Thursday 20 September 2012

A Proper Charlie

Charlie Hebdo? Those teenage graffiti artists are not engaged in serious theological, philosophical, historical, political, anthropological or sociological engagement with Islam.

I am the first to say that that needs to be very highly critical. But this is just abuse, deliberately in order to provoke a reaction from the abused, whom the abusers know perfectly well are obliged in their own terms to react.

However, that reaction has a very pronounced effect on other people, far more so than on the abusers themselves. These adolescents affecting to be serious satirists, and satire is a very serious business, are a danger to the safety of French citizens generally.

Therefore, the French State has not merely the right, but the duty, to restrain them accordingly.

6 comments:

  1. For "serious theological, philosophical, historical, political, anthropological or sociological engagement with Islam," they would need to read your books.

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  2. You are very kind.

    As I said, it is highly critical.

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  3. The first one, which has a chapter on the relationship between Hellenism and Semitism including in relation to Islam, has a preface by one of the world's most influential theologians. The second one, which has a chapter on the Middle East, comes recommended by him again as well as by this country's leading Jewish political philosopher. No schoolboy humour here.

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  4. I think you were very generous to John Milbank, letting him endorse your second book when he doesn't even have a peerage yet.

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  5. That was why I didn't ask Kamm.

    But come on, on topic, please.

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