The Holocaust Story

If the Holocaust was an event in history, it should be open to the routine critical examination to which all other historical events are open. Those who feel it right to argue against the “unique monstrosity” of the Germans should be free to do so. No one should be imprisoned for thought crimes. Contrary to how Hollywood and the Israeli-Firsters have it, the Holocaust story is not about Jews. It’s about Jews and Germans together, inseparable, for all time to come.

Sunday, May 14, 2006

CENSORSHIP ENVY


Civility, not censorship, is issue in "Da Vinci Code" debate
May 14, 2006

by John Leo

Tom Hanks thinks Christians shouldn't become irate about "The Da Vinci Code." He says it's just a story, "loaded with all sorts of hooey and fun kind of scavenger-hunt-type nonsense." He's right, but so is an official of the Christian Council of Korea, who said, "'The Da Vinci Code' is a movie which belittles and tries to destroy Christianity."

Isn't "destroy" too grand a word for a Tom Hanks entertainment? Maybe, but this thriller is mounting the powerful argument that Christianity is rotten to the core, based on lies and political conspiracy. It is surely one of the most effective attacks on Christian faith in generations. One of the cardinals at the Vatican said, in effect, we've had this kind of assault before, but not addressed to such a large audience of religious illiterates and uncritical minds.
(Read more)

4 Comments:

  • At 3:27 PM, Blogger Scott Smith said…

    This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

     
  • At 3:31 PM, Blogger Scott Smith said…

    << The group's bent is authoritarian, but it is not the sinister and murderous cult depicted in "The Da Vinci Code." >>

    Religious fundamentalists of all stripes, whether following the Pope or the Ayatollah, should be looked upon with suspicion and handled with caution. These people ultimately want to make society conform to their image of Godliness, which means theocratic governance.

     
  • At 4:23 PM, Blogger Freeman said…

    The point of Mr. Leo's article is that free speech is called for, here in the case of Dan Brown's infantile attack on Christianity but also in the case of Holocaust revisionism and presumably in cartoons of Muhammed and other matters.

    Several authors have shown that every critical "fact" in "The Da Vinci Code" is false. It's principle points are an insult to Christianity. Still, most Protestant denominations have taken the proper stand which is to use the film to open a dialogue with the unchurched. This is the way to counter lies and falsehood.

    We should all understand both the horror and absurdity of the Vatican putting a "hit" out on Dan Brown or his being imprisoned for up to 5 years for Christ-denial. Why then do we accept such behavior when it is done by Islamic fundamentalists or the "democratic" governments of Europe?

     
  • At 5:24 PM, Blogger Scott Smith said…

    I fail to see how the Dan Brown book is an attack upon Christianity. It wasn't my cup of tea but I don't see how it was infantile.

     

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