greek18 said:
Gentlemen:
Does living in 2006 and excercising freedom of speech actually mean that nothing is sacred any more? Nothing should be respected? All in the name of freedom of speech?
Greek18,
No, excercising free speech is not about offending everyone else's beliefs. You are correct about that. My point was one of Kenosis, which is a word you probably know better than others on this site. From that concept, which I think is very important, one could easily support the notion that Jesus was physically unremarkable. And also that he suffered humiliation and ultimately death without excercising wordly power follows from his Kenosis.
From this concept, my personal opinion is that this conversation is not without merit and not irreverent. But my opinion does not give me the right to offend other thoughtful people anytime I want in any public forum.
There have been some very interesting movies and books, such as The Last Temptation of Christ that are extremely serious and important as works of art and statements of theology, however controversial. The thing about a movie is thats we are free to watch it and think about its implications if we find it to be important. But we are also equally free to avoid watching it because we find it offensive. However, we are not free to force the movie on people, nor are we free to censor it so others cannot watch it.
A public forum like this is less like a movie and more like a broadcast station, where people are listening without being quite sure what they will hear from moment to moment.
The most important thing about free speech is that the government cannot censor it. That leaves it in our own hands to use it judiciously. So I support your objections and urge you to continue being a member of this site. There is so much vacuous noise on the Internet. A quality site like this needs thoughtful people like you to help maintain it as an interesting and worthwhile place to congregate.
In summary, everything controversial is not necessarily fair game in a public forum even if it is offered in good faith.
Please stay with us, Greek18.