Interestingly for me, I am currently writing my LLM research on the clash between Freedom of Expression and Freedom of Religion—and even though extensive liberalist-Sam Harris argues that there is no way a person’s free speech can affect one’s freedom to practice his or her religion, we cannot ignore the increasing physical attacks on individuals who take pride in free speech by various religious zealots.
Recently, several journalists at the satirical magazine-Charlie Hebdo were killed by radical islamists, followed by another attack in Copenhagen during a free speech and Islam debate—and now a prominent American blogger of Bangladeshi origin- Avijit Roy has been buttered to death with machetes by unidentified assailants in Dhaka for just expressing secular views which many found offensive.
“The body of Avijit Roy, founder of Mukto-Mona (Free-mind) blog site – which champions liberal secular writing in the Muslim-majority nation – was found covered in blood after an attack that also left his wife critically wounded,” reports the Guardian.
Roy’s father told AFP that, the writer, a US citizen, had received a number of “threatening” emails and messages on social media from hardliners unhappy with his writing. “He was a secular humanist and has written about ten books” including his most famous “Biswasher Virus” (Virus of Faith), he said.
And it’s just not him; he is the second Bangladeshi blogger to have been murdered in two years and the fourth writer to have been attacked since 2004—all for expressing their views.
It’s appalling how millions of religious people cannot realize that we are human beings first—before religion and that if religion is indeed what it claims to be, it will stand whatever criticism or attack.
Religion has something to say about every aspect of our lives—including what we do in our bedrooms and yet we cannot evaluate it, subject it to reason or criticise it. Any attempt by a person to put religion under the microscope of reason is termed as an assault on religion or blasphemy—and the many intolerant religious people will start calling for the head of that person.
Each of such stories confirms the undisputed fact that religion breeds insanity, it’s inherently violent and hates to have its ideas/views challenged—a clear indication that it is swiftly losing the battle to reason and secularism.
I will be insane to support any enterprise which deems it fit to kill any person for expressing opposing views. It’s clear a lot of religious people have no understanding of free speech which was perfectly captured by Voltaire when she said; “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”
Chris,
Can you make a small correction. He was butchered to death. Although buttered can also lead to death. The ‘jihadi muslims’ as opposed to the peaceful muslims are out of control. Most of these committing these crimes are criminals and psychopaths to begin with. They just use their religion as an excuse. They are murderers, rapists and thieves pretending to be religious. It’s unfortunate the western powers is in bed with them. The answer to the problem is for the west to get rid of Saudi Arabia and take over the little sheikdoms of the gulf. Sign a non aggression pact with Bashar Assad of Syria and Iran and set them lose on the tafikirist/salafist gang of criminals being aided and financed by Jordan, Turkey, Saudi and the rest of the gulf states. Also the west should have a shoot on sight policy for any Islamic recruiter or any religious fundamentalist spewing hate. All the aid to any sunni muslim state should be canceled. The US and NATO if they were serious about stopping this Islamic terrorists, should have daily sorties on all the sunni states. Plus random drone attacks in the sunni states. This is the only way to rid the terrorism. Those muslims in our midst who mouth off will be visited by the modern day version on the gestapo. After which they will be deported to their native countries. An open society should never tolerate the intolerant. We should smile but also carry a big stick when it comes to these jihadist thugs.
Oh I already changed it; sometimes it is so upsetting your fingers type what they want. Thanks 🙂
Yes I know. Cheers! I am thinking about a movie titled “mind of a Ghanaian”. It will basically be a meeting between Ghanaians from different timelines and Sigmund Freud. Freud will then write and narrate his analysis. What do you think?
Chris I personally think you are afraid to mention “radical Islam on ur headline” hence your attempt to include all religions to your argument as violent. Secondly you are also scared to write articles bashing radical Islam the same way you bash Christianity. I am a Proud Christian and my Bible doesn’t urge me to kill anyone.
CHRIS UPTO NOW YOU ARE YET TO WRITE AND PUBLISH THE NEWS ABOUT THE AMERICAN ATHEIST WHO SHOT 3 MUSLIMS TO DEATH BECAUSE OF THEIR FAITH. WE ARE WAITING TO READ YOUR COMMENTS ON THAT.
The fact that you sais the Bible doesn’t urge you to kill anyone means you don’t even know your Bible and you are not worth a debate! Maybe someone will help you with the many biblical passages which require or urge you to kill…
I don’t have time for this basic teaching!
May be we can have a debate on the ATHEIST WHO SHOT THE 3 MUSLIMS RECENTLY IN THE US?
Knowing Chris he saw it but the article won’t help his agenda so he chicken away from publishing an attack an atheist who killed 3 Muslims
Massa so many of ur readers have challenged ur anti -Christian bias and asked why u r scared to attack radical Islamic fundamentalist -ur subsequent articles still keep going the same trend so the question is do u have a problem with particularly christianity?…and if so deal with it in moderation… Belief systems are like opinions.. everyone is entitled to his… frankly ur anti-religious articles are beginning to come across as nauseating.
?????? chris o chris masa chris value his life so don’t expect such article from GC Christians are not radical we are easy just like Sunday morning. Personally I find his attack on Christian funny