The Danish cartoon caricature crisis--precipitated by the September 30, 2005, publication in Jyllands-Posten of twelve cartoons, one depicting the Prophet Muhammad with a turban shaped like a bomb--appears to non-Muslims as a battle between free speech and its enemy, narrow-minded religious bigotry.
Is it that simple? Or do Muslims look at this through a different set of lenses? The author, recently returned from a working session with Muslims in the Middle East, suggests that for Muslims, the issue is one of respect. Even if one believes in the right to free speech, does that mean denigrating another religion is to be defended?
The author raises important issues central to this crisis and suggests that Christians can respect the right to free speech while respecting our Muslim brothers and sisters. Four questions for discussion are included, which will certainly provoke a rich dialogue among thoughtful Christians.
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