One of the interesting social elements of the Papal visit has been the wilful misrepresentation and misinterpretation of various of his utterances. Thats selective media for you. Naturally this has been exploited to its fullest extent to both rile and fuel those various groups who oppose the Pope, his visit and what he stands for. This disparate and unusual ‘alliance’ includes evangelical protestants, dissaffected catholics, and secular humanists.
I just want to touch briefly on different misrepresentations (as I percieve them).
– the reductio ad hitlerum.
“Even in our own lifetime, we can recall how Britain and her leaders stood against a Nazi tyranny that wished to eradicate God from society and denied our common humanity to many, especially the Jews, who were thought unfit to live. I also recall the regime’s attitude to Christian pastors and religious who spoke the truth in love, opposed the Nazis and paid for that opposition with their lives. As we reflect on the sobering lessons of the atheist extremism of the 20th century, let us never forget how the exclusion of God, religion and virtue from public life leads ultimately to a truncated vision of man and of society and thus to a ‘reductive vision of the person and his destiny'”
Subtly, perhaps crucially, (maybe even cynically) there is a break in the continuity of his comment. He speaks first of Nazi tyranny, then proceeds to ‘reflect’ on the lessons of atheist extremism in the 20th century. Two distinct (though related) lines of thought. To qoute one respected media commentator: “He did not say that Nazis or Hitler were atheists. He routinely condemns different kinds of dictatorship, including the modern dictatorship of relativism.” adding later on “The Pope didn’t spell out the sobering lessons of the atheist extremism of the 20th century.”
Perhaps this was wise as some atheists refuse to accept (is believe an appropriate phrase?) that in the name of atheism (which by no means should infer criticism of atheism as a system of thought) atrocities have been committed. Stalin, Mao and Pol Pot are named by some (I can only comment on Stalin). Perhaps also though that he did not spell it out opened himself to criticism. Though I personally feel that whatever he had to say would have attracted criticism from some disaffected quarter.
—
“I assume the ideal solution from a believers perspective is to be able to speak without any disagreement”
At Westminster the Pope said:
“Each generation, as it seeks to advance the common good, must ask anew: what are the requirements that governments may reasonably impose upon citizens, and how far do they extend? By appeal to what authority can moral dilemmas be resolved?”
He then warned:
“If the moral principles underpinning the democratic process are themselves determined by nothing more solid than social consensus, then the fragility of the process becomes all too evident – herein lies the real challenge for democracy.”
This seems to belie the idea that he seeks unquestioned acceptance. Even were it religiously motivated this would amount to a social consensus. The “challenge” for democracy then is that “Religion, in other words, is not a problem for legislators to solve, but a vital contributor to the national conversation.”
Conversation, dialogue anyone?
“There are those who would advocate that the voice of religion be silenced, or at least relegated to the purely private sphere. ”
I hear this from a secularist element frequently… which on an aside sounds like defeatism, having been unable to convince the whole of religious believers to abandon their faith it would seem more preferable then to simply not have to listen to it.
“These are worrying signs of a failure to appreciate not only the rights of believers to freedom of conscience and freedom of religion, but also the legitimate role of religion in the public square.”
The first two freedoms are important and I would note that the vast majority of the secular world respect and mutually hold. The last line I would agree is in need of clarification. In my opinion religion (as a language game) as a cultural group or as a group expression of culture is as deserved of a right to public expression in national political debate as is any other cultural group.
—
I cant help myself 🙂
re: Dawkins
“His arguments rather address their beliefs but generally don’t go as far as ad hominem and therefore do not disrespect anyone. Ideas themselves are never owed respect, only people.”
To the last line first. Ideas belonging to the conceptual world are not in a position to demand respect (agreed). A tolerant society that allows the free transmission, acceptance or rejection of those ideas however demands that those voices who project the ideas be respectfully allowed to speak. (I have no trouble with this). Yet isnt that simply an idea of how society should be? An ideal so to speak? Is that not a demand for an idea (freedom of expression) to be respected?
As for Dawkins doesnt do ad hominem…
“a well-organised and well-financed group of nutters’” – a secondary source quote re: the Intelligence Design Lobby*
name-calling e.g. ‘dyed-in-the-wool faith-heads are immune to argument’
On Nadia Ewieda having “one of the most stupid faces I’ve ever seen”.
On the Pope: “a leering old villain in a frock” …
Debate continues in the philosophy world as to what extent “mere” name calling constitutes a logical ad hominem, or whether an ad hominem is merely confined to being a logical fallacy but rather can be extended to being a rhetorical fallacy.
*I asterisk this quote as it is taken from an extensive and ongoing argument between Dawkins detractors who accuse him of a string of ad hominem attacks and his supporters who refuse to countenance such a charge. This quote is peculiar in that when it was used to charge Dawkins with committing ad hominem it was a secondary quote, i.e. somebody else quoting Dawkins. This has been used as a defence (i.e. the quote is inadmissible). Apparently the quote is taken from a Dawkins supporter so the counter-argument goes it has good provenance… the debate is ongoing.
In truth I asterisk it as Dawkins, much like the Pope has a public following and makes public pronouncements either planned or spontaneous, verbal and written. Consequently the media are very deft at msiquoting, misrepresenting and distorting his views. After all a “culture war” between science and religion seemingly makes for good news material.
—
The more I read and listen to the current Pope’s views the more certain I am that he is wilfully misrepresented. He made frequent comments about dialogue (as opposed to the imposition of one moral code) and about the tolerance of all belief systems and their right to participation in the national dialogue.
This is the real challenge of democracy and the litmus paper against which it may be tested and compared to tyranny.
In our culture some of religion may oppose abortion, some of non-religion may support it and never the twain shall meet. How then should we proceed? In a democracy fair and open and tolerant debate and dialogue must be allowed (are we really so intransigent that we may not change our minds on something or that our consience may not be swayed one way or another?). And it would seem to me a simple utilitarian good of the many must prevail in the final decision making process. (Even though this is a tyranny in itself). Yet it is perhaps only the vanquished, the minority viewpoint who would interpret such an outcome as tyranny. No-one in such a diverse culture as ours will ever be wholly satisfied. But this is why debate and dialogue must continue, and why media misrepresentation of either side must be ignored.