06 Feb 2006
The Vatican Weighs In

on the Danish cartoon controversy.

In an unsigned statement released by the Vatican press office Saturday, the Holy See stated: "The freedom of thought and expression, confirmed in the Declaration of Human Rights, can not include the right to offend religious feelings of the faithful. That principle obviously applies to any religion." [link]

Excuse me? Huh? Someone needs to insure that the Vatican staff (I would suggest the Pope himself here, but the statement was unsigned) has actually read the book they refer to as "Holy Scripture". My readings in there have shown a near continuous stream of invective against "false" gods, mine included. Should I show my deep offense by suggesting Bible banning? How do you suppose the Vatican would react to such a suggestion?

Apparently, there's not as much difference between Christianity and Islam as some would have us believe. They're both obviously terrified of freedom. Perhaps they're fearful that the slumbering masses currently in their thrall might actually awaken and throw off the yoke under which they've labored these past thousand years.

Myself? I can deal with freedom just fine, thank you! I would oppose a ban on Bibles as vigorously as I would one imposed on the Eddas or the Koran. I may lack "faith" in the sense the monotheistic religions use the term, but I have the utmost confidence that my beliefs and practices as as valid as any, and I feel no need to impose my vision of a spiritual life by force or fraud upon my fellows.

And that's a principle that should obviously apply to any religion.

00:00 /Asatru | 2 comments | permanent link