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In the week following the attack, Charlie Hebdo’s front page was a picture of Mohammed, holding a ‘Je Suis Charlie’ sign (a slogan adopted by those supporting the magazine online and in marches) with a ‘tout est pardonné’ caption, meaning ‘all is forgiven.’ While the cover was designed to show the magazine would not bow to pressure and threats, by once again showing a picture of Mohammed they knowingly offended the two million Muslims who live in France. All of this led to the question: what are the limits on free speech?
• What were your immediate reactions to the attacks on Charlie Hebdo?
• Do you think they were right to print a picture of Mohammed the week after the attacks?
• Would your reaction have been different if the cartoon had been racist or homophobic – would they still have the right to print that?
• Do you think that people should have the right to say anything, even if people find it offensive?
The issue of offence is a difficult one. What some people might find offensive, others find hilarious. We can talk about context, we can talk about intent, but ultimately, should we be telling jokes, stories or creating other content which others find offensive? Does this mean we should tiptoe around the truth, constantly scared of the effect our words might have on other people? Or should we declare what we think boldly, unafraid of any consequences it might have?
In one translation of 2 Corinthians 6:3 Paul says, ‘We give no offence in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed.’ Yet elsewhere, Paul says, ‘If I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offence of the cross has been abolished.’ Similarly, in Matthew 15:12 we see this happen: ‘Then the disciples came to him and asked, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?”’ So is offence good or bad? Should we be terrified, or accept that the gospel is inherently offensive to some, and that’s their problem?
• What do you think about these passages?
• Which one do you most agree with?
• Should Christians say whatever they want?
• Does the outcome of what we’re saying negate any offense it might cause?
• Is the same true for other people – if their intentions are good, does offence matter?
