by Emmanuel Bouhalakis
The last issue of the "Charlie Hebdo" newspaper has followed the footsteps of the previous issues. Often, its themes are cruelly controversial and reach the point of sick humor. This last issue, commemorating the murderous attacks of radical Islamists last year, features a bearded man in its front page who looks like God (in a manner often perceived by some artists), splattered in blood and carrying an assault rifle over his shoulder. The headline translates as: "One year after: The assassin is still out there."
The editors' point is, obviously, the dark side of religion. This side is filled with fanaticism, bigotry, jealousy and racism. These elements, after all, are evident in all kinds of religions. Looking at the hatred between Sunni and Shia Muslims or Hindus and Sikhs will prove sufficient as to the immensely corrossive effect of the wrong handling of religion. Even among Christianity, the outright enmity between Catholics and Orthodox believers is deeply embarrassing considering the fact that Jesus was always a peacemaker, according to the Gospels. He was the one who said the famous words, "If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also".
However, there is something utterly disturbing about the recent cover of Charlie Hebdo. The editors chose the image of God perceived in the Christian world. The triangle with the all-seeing eye is typically shown in western paintings and sketches and supposedly has to do with the God of the Christians. We will not argue about whether this triangle is Christian or Masonic, as this is another story. The point is, this symbol has been associated with the God of the Christians.
Interestingly enough, however, the Christian God is actually not Christian in the strict sense of the word. It is the very same Yahweh (or Jehovah, as He is erroneously called) who is the God of the Hebrew religion. Jesus claimed that Yahweh had sent him. Jesus' own name has the name Yahweh inside. Thus, the Christian God is shared by two religions.
At this point, a baffling thought arises. Do the editors of Hebdo consider Jews and Christians criminals ? Obviously, if one worships a God that bears a Kalashnikov and runs away to hide soaked in blood, then obviously His believers probably agree with His crimes. Thus, they do not only believe in the wrong God but consecutively they seem to approve their God's murderous appetites. Otherwise, they wouldn't give a dime about Him, since He is so mean. Or, they must all be totally blind and brainless because they cannot judge the actions of their God. Perhaps they are a type of zombies or lobotomized individuals.
On the other hand, if the Judeo-Christian God is this evil, then perhaps the radical Islamists are right to desire a jihad to destroy the infidel Christians. And, as this God is common in Judaism, what a glorious opportunity to wipe out the Jews from the planet as well.
One can easily understand the unfathomable folly of the Hebdo people. Seeking to be totally secular and against racism, they have achieved that precise thing they wanted to prevent. They have concluded, in their mind, that basically all religions are evil but the real culprit who seems to have evaded justice is the Judeo-Christian God. So, they have sent a kind of message to the people of the world that this God is the real enemy. They have unleashed their own racist attack since religious faith is constitutionally established and no one can judge people by what they believe. The smokescreen of satire does not cover the deeply offending message.
One can say that Hebdo became a beacon of free speech when it showed Mohammed in its cover last year and they paid for it with their lives. That is why they have a sort of immunity in what they publish.
I have always had serious reservations in the view that defaming the leader of a billion-strong religion, especially one that differs dramatically from the meek and humble approach of Christianity, would prove to be a wise thing to do. In Islam, you are simply not supposed to depict the Prophet in any way. He is considered holy. Hebdo was attacked by the most extreme wings of Islam who had found the sketches too blasphemous.
This edition, however, goes far beyond a humoristic depiction of the Judeo-Christian God. As far as I know, there is neither Inquisition nor Crusades nowadays. Not only that, but the vast majority of Europe is Christian only by name. The actual effect of Christianity in Europe is on the verge of totally insignificant. So, why the hatred?
It is the right of Hebdo to desire a world without religion if they think that's the way to solve humanity's problems. But it is definitely not their right to blame the Judeo-Christian God for all the evil in the world, especially when they were not attacked by Christians or Jews.
So, for my part, dear gentlemen of Charlie, I am not one of yours. I felt and still feel sorry for last year's tragedy. Nevertheless. no moral support will be given to people who defile what others hold sacred. The messages conveyed under the veil of satire are not humoristic at all. They point to hardline atheists who seem to pursue their own agenda. At least, there are numerous people who speak their mind openly and with the use of reason. Using sick humor just doesn't do the trick.
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