B-Daddy has a slightly different take on the "
Draw Mohammed" controversy. Elsewhere, our Missionary to the Frozen, Northern Wastelands makes the following point in
an excellent post of his own.
In fact, despite claims to the contrary, the prohibition against depicting Mohammed did not arise until the 16th or 17th century.
I hadn't known that. Still, I'm inclined to side with those leaning towards respect rather than challenge. I'm just not a big fan of supporting disrespectful libertines who want to have societal permission to mock and attack everything.
KT,
ReplyDeleteExcellent points in your discussion. I appreciate the link as well.
I think it is fair, as the Pope has done to challenge Islam on the nature of its faith. A dialog in which they, the Muslims, are challenged to square their faith with modernity, much as the Catholic faith had to post-Renaissance, is a discussion very much needed.
Right now the discussion is drowned out by the shouting of a radical minority, who claim knowledge to God's will, but in many respects are acting contrary to traditions of their own faith.
The Pope has asked the Muslim world to examine whether their beliefs are reasonable, and has yet to receive a reply. That is a shame, because, their are strains of Muslim tradition and thought that are in fact reasonable.
Part of the reason I chose a depiction of Mohamed from 16th century Persia is to highlight those other traditions.