Polarizing Provocation

Charlie Hebdo's special edition recognizing the one-year anniversary of the terrorist attack that left 12 dead in their Paris offices makes a reckless, dishonest, and profoundly damaging statement:  the cover portrays God as a Kalashnikov-wielding terrorist scurrying about with blood on his hands, and it has the caption:  "The assassin is still at large."  Their point is clear:  God is to blame.  God is the killer.  Religion is the problem.

This broad brush journalistic swipe at religion is both incorrect and irresponsible.  We would expect some measure of discernment, some capacity to make vital distinctions, by those who write for a paper with the following self-description:  "A different angle on the news, for an in-depth view beyond the everyday media offer.  Humour, food for thought and satire from cartoonists, journalists, reporters, writers and columnists."  But discernment is cast to the wind in this brazen gesture to smear any and all who believe in God with the guilt of ruthless killers.  The Vatican, rightly, has sharply criticized Charlie Hebdo's anti-God message.

I can't help but suppose that this poor excuse for journalism is really a clever publicity stunt to sell papers and turn a nice profit.  Tossing out the baby with the bath water may be "Foolish Thinking 101," but it serves nicely to inflame other careless minds, cause unnecessary division, and, again, sell papers.  As they say, there is no such thing as bad publicity.

Two seconds of honest reflection on the history of the world will remind an open-minded person that religious faith has motivated many of the greatest humanitarian achievements.  Yes, religious people have sometimes committed great wrongs.  But to let that fact erase the massive contribution of good would be tragic and foolish.  Consider, for example, the countless hospitals founded by Christian missionaries that dot the planet.  Or so many many schools and universities.  Or charities or shelters for the homeless or social service agencies.  The list could go on and on.  But I'll stop.