"Living With Our Deepest Differences: Freedom of Expression in a Religiously Diverse World"

Charles C. Haynes, Living With Our Deepest Differences: Freedom of Expression in a Religiously Diverse World, 2008-2009 Fides et Libertas 56.

Haynes looks at several recent world developments--successful "defamation of religion" resolutions at the U.N., the U.K.'s new "incitement to religious hatred" law, the new Irish blasphemy statute, etc.--and concludes that "freedom of speech is losing ground in nations across the globe, most disturbingly in the democracies of Europe." (p. 58) He argues, quite rightly in my opinion, that religious groups who support censorship laws are being short-sighted, because times change and there's a fair chance those very same laws will be used against them someday. Haynes is strongly against blasphemy laws and their modern counterparts, but also makes an insightful point:

"That does not mean, of course, that we should sit back and do nothing to address concerns about speech that deeply offend people of faith. If speech codes or other government regulations are not the answer, what is? . . . It is simply not enough for one side to proclaim 'free speech' or 'free press' and for the other to cry 'blasphemy' or 'hate speech.'" (p. 61, 63)

He argues that education is better than censorship when it comes to reduce hateful speech, but this point needs further analysis.

Still, the question is worth pondering: beyond condemning blasphemy laws, what do civil liberties advocates have to say to religious minorities who are fearful of the rise of hate-groups?