RE: Shocking!

["Sunil, Mogadati" <m.sunil@barco.com>]

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Two points I would like to make in response to
Mr. Krishna Tripathi's suggestion that preaching
of religion should be banned. Firstly, such an oppression
of expression of religious beliefs and articles of faith can
become a worse kind of religion itself (as seen in the ultra-left).
Secondly, I object to the reason given for why such
a ban should be imposed. Mr. Tripathi said, "For those who say
this is against freedom of expression. These religions forbid
worship of other gods. So they don't believe in freedom of
expression themselves  and should not be allowed to take
advantage of this axiom"

This statement does not seem to be a completely correct
understanding what we mean by freedom of expression.
If a Muslim tries to persuade a Christian that deification of
Christ is not correct, that by itself does not violate the
freedom of expression of a Christian. The Christian can still
continue to consider Christ as she/he pleases to consider and
respond to the criticism/suggestion of the Muslim, if she/he chooses to.
However, if things like force, fraud etc are used, that becomes
a violation of freedom of expression.
A moralist for instance who considers some paths to be good
and others bad, or a scientist/philosopher who considers some
things to be true and others false,  are by no means violating the
freedom of those who disagree with them.

Sunil.


> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Krishna C Tripathi [SMTP:krishnact@yahoo.com]
> Sent:	Tuesday, October 24, 2000 1:13 AM
> To:	debate@indiapolicy.org
> Subject:	RE: Shocking!
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> Please help make the Manifesto better, or accept it, and propagate it!
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
>   I think we should ban preaching religion. Though
> people should be allowed to follow their own system of
> beleifs whether they are defined or undefined
> organized or unorganized.
>
> Note: For those who say this is against feedom of
> expression. These religions forbid worship of other
> gods. So they don't believe in freedom of expression
> themselves  and should not be allowed to take
> advantage of this axiom. X is only for those who
> beleive in X. Freedom of Expression whould be only for
> those who beleive in Freedom of Expression.
> --- "Sunil, Mogadati" <m.sunil@barco.com> wrote:
> >
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> > Please help make the Manifesto better, or accept it,
> > and propagate it!
> >
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> > You are perhaps right about the "restricted" nature
> > of Christianity.
> > Yet, we need to ponder if we can get away with
> > restrictions
> > in a pursuit of truth and holiness?
> > Should we not seek to purge harmful superstitions
> > and evil, that
> > has always been part of religious practices of all
> > the religions of this
> > world?
> > Is it not possible that a absolutely Holy God, if
> > exists, forbids
> > worship of anything/anyone lesser?
> > The fact that we are free-thinking human beings,
> > entails some
> > moral responsibilities too and if we choose to take
> > the responsibilities
> > seriously, we are actually choosing to take a
> > "restrictive" path
> > (at least in this sense of seeking truth and
> > holiness as against the
> > elements of superstition and profanity).
> >
> > Sunil.
>


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