Religeous intolerance

I actually agree with you Monica but I am also equally horrified he is under police protection. I'm sure we have all made mistakes, some big some small, some personally, some professionally. I find social media is the work of the devil in these scenarios.

There is such a thing as being culpably foolish. This teacher is teaching in a school which I would suspect has a lot of muslim pupils, given its location. He cannot have been unaware of the sensitivities.

There are so many ways he could have discussed toleration or blashemy, assuming that is what the class was about without including a cartoon of Mohamed. For example cartoons featuring other religions, with a blank piece of paper for Islam and a discussion on that, why was there no picture of Mohamed, to help both sides understand each other and to see the difference, for example, between the threat of death and exile forced on Christians in some Muslims countries if accused (without evidence) of blasphemy and relatively harmless convention of not portrating Mohamed.

In our ordinary life most of us try to conduct ourselves so that we do not gratuitiously upset other people, particularly if the irritant or particularity is minor and causes no major problems. Surely respecting a religion's wish not to see any deliniation of its prophet, is a small thing, why not respect it?

This was from the link I posted:

Because Religious Studies is a rigorous and demanding academic discipline in its own right. It engenders critical thinking and rigour in the search for truths in uncertain fields. It encourages philosophical thought, decision making skills, collaboration and independent working skills and the search for compromise and conflict resolutions that work. It creates opportunities for young people to develop their skills of dialogue, interpretation and analysis in a coherent context. All these are vital skills in a modern workforce where communication, collaboration and cooperation are core skills

If it was very offensive it shouldn't have been shown but we don't know if the teacher produced the cartoon so that people would engage in discussion surrounding its offensiveness, why is it offensive and so on and so forth. Obviously that should have been provoked in a different manner but I don't know about all of you, I have always encouraged my children to question what they are being told and explore truths within information and challenge themselves to look deeper than what is given as I think it is healthy

I had a conversation with my husbands' granddaughters who went to state catholic senior schools, this would have been in the last ten years. At that time they told me their school discussed contraception, abortion and it was obliged to as part of sex education as set out in the national curriculum. These days there is far more wriggle room in the catholic religion, clerics are no doubt very aware they, are part of an institution which has found itself on the wrong side of the argument so many times, I think now there is a bit of a piecemeal approach to what followers adopt. Abortion is forbidden but as far as contraception is concerned the standard get out clause by individual priests from what I understand is they leave it all up to the individual's conscience. The church has to be mindful that in the wake of never ending historical wrongs they no longer have a vice like grip with the younger generation they once had over more compliant and unquestioning followers, particularly in Ireland. I also think as far as blasphemous images relating to the Christian religion per se is concerned, the general consensus and expectations of society is that whilst they might upset some, no one is going to do much about it.

Islam imposes more rigours and strictures, maybe like Catholicism was once. Possibly whilst Islamic schools should also be bound by the curriculum I imagine they will refuse to teach anything that conflicts with their own beliefs. I think that would be the same for Orthodox Jewish schools. As far as all the hoo ha surrounding the cartoons is concerned I think there are more important issues, for example relating to how girl children are treated, not always as equals. I don't expect everyone to share my point of view, I'm just thinking fighting battles on every front isn't going to improve social cohesion and as someone pointed out up thread that just may make Muslims feel they are being unfairly targeted.

I'm probably playing Devil's Advocate, I don't think the teacher was wrong, I think he was foolish. Should he be outed on social media or mob tactics used outside the school to intimidate, absolutely not. Should be grounds for prosecution.

Ilovecheese I think how secure you feel depends on your experience. In my last year at a Catholic school our teacher told us to hang on tight to our faith as some people would attack or make fun of us because of it. I laughed at the idea until in my first job, after I was quickly promoted, someone said it was because I was Catholic and so was my boss. I was always on the defensive after that even though I didn’t practice the religion.

Just to add before I have to go as I haven’t had time to read all the posts on here as had to take two long calls whilst trying to post my previous reply. I have just read some post saying something to the effect it’s not acceptable to ridicule others’ religious beliefs. Why are people jumping to the conclusion that this teacher was in anyway attempting to ridicule Islam?

I never thought I say this but I’m with SW on this. I find it really quite depressing how some posters are seeking to blame this teacher.

There are double standards. What about the average everyday Muslims that want to look after their families go to work and mosque and live law abiding lives. They are told by extremist Muslims who believe in jihad that they are not even Muslims if they will not go to places like Syria and anywhere else to fight the cause in the name of Allah. All of the Muslims do not want to fight and kill.
It seems they will take great offence of course if Mohammed is ridiculed.

Do we know that the classroom was full of muslim pupils? If so, the teacher concerned was possibly being deliberately provocative. Without knowing all the facts he was quite probably attempting to educate his class on blasphemy as has been reported. Like the teacher in France, who told the muslim pupils they were free to leave the classroom. Ultimately isn’t it down to a muslim whether they view the image or not? During a debate on this same issue after the Hebdo massacre some muslims drew a picture of Anne Frank enjoying a post coital cigarette whilst in bed with Hitler. Many Jews and non Jews found that offensive. However, nobody’s life was in danger. Nobody had to be ordered to gather a mob together to intimidate and bully people into submission. To place this on a par with the JK Rowling incident is stretching it too far. Feelings may have been hurt with JFR’s outrageous assertion that only women menstruate (even though it’s true) but nobody had to go into hiding. Nobody’s life was in danger.

I don’t agree with being deliberately provocative but I don’t believe we should be forced to give up our freedoms to appease those that would seek to change our cultural norms.

Gwyneth

There are double standards though. What about Muslims who preach hate against all non-Muslims?

Do you think that doesn’t happen in Christianity??

That’s what all the missions are for. To spread religion like traveling salesmen

Gannygangan

I'm all for teaching Greek myths at school. They're fabulous.

No idea which cartoon this teacher posted. I'm not on the side of the baying mob but why show this cartoon? Is it an integral part of the curriculum?

As for parents who caused such a fuss for same sex parents in books. Just ignorant.

I wonder if in two thousand years it will be Christianity that is being taught as a myth

There are double standards though. What about Muslims who preach hate against all non-Muslims?

I have no idea why Muslims get so offended by the cartoons in question, but they clearly do and anyone doing anything to inflame that offence needs their head examined.

I’m still trying to figure out why so many people get offended that the “white jesus” depicted was very likely not what he looked like.

Who decides annie that's the issue. Why is it ok to stop a teacher discussing blasphemy but not ok to stop him teaching about same sex relationships. Both of those subjects are offensive to some people of faith.

Those talking of teachers who may be in discussion with pupils (Catholic) in regard of contraception and abortion have a right to bring that up.

In the U.K. many Catholics do still follow their religious beliefs
It has been many years since the Pope agreed to birth control and the Vatican moved forward with the times.

We only have to look at Ireland particularly the North
and to remember the Irish troubles of Catholics and Protestants the troubles that went on for years.
I am not sure how long abortion has been legal in Northern Ireland it is not that long though. Women from Northern Ireland seeking abortion would come over to the U.K for their terminations.
Yes it is true Catholics do get offended when people say what they like about them we also follow the Catholic faith with pride.

I do not think the teacher should have shown the cartoon, it was stupid and ill judged.
I am sorry that he needs Police Protection now, and it seems it may have a big impact on his life for some time to come.

Greyduster I think you’re probably right that even alluding to it might be a problem. With such a sensitive subject I wonder why the approach to teaching this wasn’t agreed with the Head Teacher and Governors in advance and if it was perhaps the teacher did his own thing.

Anniebach

Is speaking of the right to contraception the same as a cartoon of the Pope.

It’s in the same ball park imo - basic tenets of a faith

We Catholics are, in the main, very secure though, we can laugh at ourselves and not take offence so easily..

Maybe he should have known better but how many of us even RE teachers have read the Koran and know that an image of the Prophet is forbidden.
A teacher being in fear of violence after what was a mistake is not something that should be tolerated in Britain.

It comes to something when threats are made !!

The teacher should have known that showing the Charlie Hebdon cartoon of the prophet Mohammed would cause unrest and trouble. Look what happened to the teacher in France.
There should be an overhaul of the R.E. studies for Muslims
as they become defensive when they feel their prophet is made fun of.

That teacher will probably have to stay in hiding with his wife and four young children under police protection, even though he has apologized that may not be enough as some of the extremists live by the sword quite frightenng.

Is speaking of the right to contraception the same as a cartoon of the Pope.

It isn’t about saying what you want though is it regardless? But what if a teacher is teaching about sex equality and she wants to mention the importance of the right to contraception and abortion? Is this criticising Catholicism? Should it not be allowed because it might upset some of the Catholic pupils in the class? And yes a group of people calling for the sacking of a teacher, outing him on social media , who’ve had no discussions with the school, who shouted over the police officer reading out the apology ( and is that the role of the police?) yes, that’s a mob

I would like to ask why he couldn’t just refer to the cartoon as an example of religious intolerance rather than actually showing it.
jaqrose such is the sensitivity surrounding this subject with the Muslim community, you have to wonder whether the teacher would have even got away with that. His action may ultimately have life changing implications for him and for his family. They must be in shock.

I thought that as well jacqrose seemed unnecessary to show the cartoon instead of just referring to it.
Like MOnica I don't agree with either side in this.