The Scrutiny of Sacred Texts
A scholarly exploration into the historical and contemporary practices of controlling expression through religious authority, examining censorship across various faiths and contexts.
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Overview
Defining Religious Censorship
Religious censorship is a specific modality of censorship wherein freedom of expression is curtailed or regulated by religious authorities or based upon the tenets and doctrines of a particular religion. This practice has a profound historical lineage, manifesting across diverse societies and religious traditions. It fundamentally involves the suppression of views deemed contrary to established religious dogma, often on grounds such as blasphemy, heresy, sacrilege, or impiety.
Historical Manifestations
Historically, religious censorship has taken various forms, including the prohibition of specific texts, the destruction of dissenting literature and art, and the condemnation of individuals whose works challenge religious orthodoxy. Notable historical examples include the Edict of Compiègne, the Catholic Church's Index Librorum Prohibitorum (List of Prohibited Books), and the fatwa issued against Salman Rushdie's novel The Satanic Verses by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. The destruction of the Buddhas of Bamiyan in Afghanistan by radical Islamists serves as a stark example of cultural and religious censorship through physical destruction.
Interpretive Authority
The enforcement of religious censorship is often facilitated by the hierarchical structure within religious traditions, where religious authorities hold the exclusive right to interpret doctrine. This can make it challenging to contest censorship, as the interpretation of religious law is frequently considered dogmatic and non-negotiable. The Catholic Church, for instance, maintained its Index of Prohibited Books until 1965, and its underlying moral obligation to guide believers away from potentially harmful texts persists.
Forms and Rationales
Grounds for Suppression
The rationales underpinning religious censorship typically revolve around the perceived threat posed by certain expressions to religious beliefs, practices, or social order. These grounds include:
- Blasphemy: Speech or action considered to be insulting or contemptuous towards God or sacred things.
- Heresy: Belief or opinion contrary to orthodox religious doctrine.
- Sacrilege: Violation or misuse of something sacred.
- Impiety: Lack of reverence for God or religious practices.
- Obscenity: Content deemed offensive to religious morals.
- Dogma Violation: Works that challenge established religious doctrines or tenets.
- Taboo Transgression: Content that violates religious prohibitions or taboos.
Textual and Material Destruction
Beyond the prohibition of specific works, religious censorship can manifest as the physical destruction of cultural artifacts and texts that conflict with the dominant religious ideology. The systematic destruction of historical sites and religious imagery, such as the aforementioned Buddhas of Bamiyan, exemplifies this severe form of censorship, aimed at eradicating the cultural and religious heritage of others.
Legal and Institutional Frameworks
Many societies integrate religious principles into their legal systems, leading to laws that prohibit blasphemy, apostasy, or the dissemination of materials deemed offensive to religious sensibilities. These legal frameworks, often enforced by religious police or state-sanctioned bodies, provide the institutional mechanisms for enacting religious censorship. Examples range from strict Islamic legal codes to historical Christian ecclesiastical courts.
Case Studies Across Faiths
Baháʼí Faith
Within the Baháʼí Faith, authors are required to submit their works for review by the National Spiritual Assembly before publication. This practice, initiated by ʻAbdu'l-Bahá, is intended to prevent misrepresentation of the Faith's teachings during its early stages. While proponents argue it is akin to academic journal review, critics, including academics like Juan Cole and Denis MacEoin, have voiced concerns that it constitutes censorship, potentially stifling scholarly research and open discourse.
Buddhism
In Myanmar, the military government historically exercised significant censorship over the arts, prohibiting nudity and depictions of Buddhism that deviated from traditional norms. While enforcement has loosened since political reforms in 2011, the underlying laws remain. In Thailand, the film Arbat was banned in 2015 due to its portrayal of Buddhist monks engaging in controversial activities, such as drug use and inappropriate physical contact, which was deemed disrespectful to religious figures.
Christianity
The advent of the printing press in the 15th century led to increased efforts by both church and state to control printed materials. In Europe, printers required licenses, and books were subject to inspection. The Catholic Church's Index Librorum Prohibitorum, first promulgated in 1559, listed works deemed heretical or dangerous to faith and morals, including writings by Desiderius Erasmus and Nicolaus Copernicus. Although abolished in 1966, the Church retains the right to review materials concerning faith and morals. More recently, José Saramago's novel "The Gospel According to Jesus Christ" faced censorship challenges in Portugal due to pressure from the Catholic Church.
Islam
Islamic traditions, particularly in theocracies or regions with strong religious legal systems, have employed censorship based on interpretations of Islamic law. Quran 2:256 prohibits compulsion in religion. However, fatwas have been issued against works like The Satanic Verses, calling for the author's execution for blasphemy. Islamic religious police have confiscated media deemed un-Islamic, and strict prohibitions exist against the practice or proselytizing of non-Islamic religions within certain territories, such as Saudi Arabia.
Judaism
Jewish history involves both external censorship by non-Jewish governments and internal self-censorship or censorship by religious authorities. Historically, governments regulated the printing of Jewish books, sometimes employing Jewish apostates knowledgeable in Hebrew as censors. Internally, rabbinic authorities have banned works perceived as dangerous to faith or morals. Examples include restrictions on philosophical works like Maimonides' The Guide for the Perplexed and later, kabbalistic texts, due to concerns about their potential influence on religious observance and belief. Modern Orthodox authorities continue to ban books that challenge traditional interpretations or promote views considered contrary to Halakha (Jewish law).
Mechanisms of Control
Direct Suppression
Direct methods involve the outright banning, confiscation, or destruction of materials deemed unacceptable. This includes:
- Book Burning: The physical destruction of written works.
- Expurgation: The removal or alteration of specific content within a text.
- Censor Bars/Pixelization: Visual obscuring of sensitive imagery.
- Broadcast Delay: Live broadcasts are sometimes delayed to allow for censorship edits.
- Gag Orders: Legal prohibitions against discussing specific topics or information.
Indirect Influence and Control
Indirect methods shape discourse and limit expression through subtler means:
- Self-Censorship: Individuals or organizations avoid certain topics or expressions for fear of reprisal or social ostracism.
- Chilling Effect: The discouragement of legitimate activities due to the threat of legal sanction or other penalties.
- Gatekeeping: Control over what information is disseminated through media channels.
- Content-Control Software: Technological measures used to filter or block access to specific online content.
- Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs): Legal actions intended to intimidate and silence critics.
Shaping Public Discourse
Broader strategies aim to influence public opinion and limit the scope of acceptable discourse:
- Propaganda: The systematic dissemination of information, often biased or misleading, to promote a particular political cause or point of view.
- Loaded Language/Euphemisms: The use of emotionally charged words or milder terms to frame issues in a particular light.
- Opinion Corridor: The range of discourse considered acceptable within a given society or institution.
- Taboo: Social or religious prohibitions against certain words, objects, actions, or discussions.
Contexts of Censorship
Media and Information
Censorship frequently targets media content, including books, films, music, and online platforms. This can involve:
- Book Censorship: Banning or removing books from libraries or schools.
- Film Censorship: Requiring edits or prohibiting the distribution of films.
- Internet Censorship: Blocking websites, filtering content, or monitoring online activity.
- Press Freedom: Restrictions on journalistic reporting and publication.
Political and Legal Spheres
Governments and political entities often employ censorship for political control:
- Political Censorship: Suppressing dissent, opposition, or information critical of the state.
- Speech Codes: Regulations on acceptable speech, often in academic or public institutions.
- Prior Restraint: Legal measures preventing publication or dissemination of information.
- State Atheism: Policies promoting atheism and suppressing religious expression.
Corporate and Social Influence
Non-governmental entities also engage in censorship:
- Corporate Censorship: Companies controlling content on their platforms or products.
- Cancel Culture/Deplatforming: Socially driven efforts to withdraw support or remove individuals from public platforms.
- Hate Speech Regulations: Measures to control speech that attacks or demeans specific groups.
- Algorithmic Bias: Content moderation policies embedded in algorithms that can inadvertently censor certain viewpoints.
Consequences and Related Concepts
Societal Effects
Religious censorship can have profound societal impacts, including the suppression of intellectual inquiry, the erosion of academic freedom, and the marginalization of minority religious or cultural groups. It can foster an environment of fear and conformity, hindering critical thinking and open dialogue. The selective destruction of cultural heritage also represents a loss for collective human memory and understanding.
Related Phenomena
Religious censorship is closely linked to broader issues of religious intolerance and discrimination. Concepts such as:
- Religious Intolerance: Unwillingness to accept or respect beliefs or practices different from one's own.
- Religious Discrimination: Unfair treatment based on religious affiliation or belief.
- Iconoclasm: The destruction of religious images or symbols.
- Forced Conversion: Compelling individuals to adopt a different religion.
These phenomena often intersect, with censorship serving as a tool to enforce religious conformity and suppress perceived deviations.
Counter-Movements
The practice of censorship often sparks counter-movements advocating for freedom of expression and religious liberty. These movements challenge censorship through legal advocacy, public awareness campaigns, and the promotion of open access to information. The ongoing debate surrounding religious freedom and censorship highlights the tension between protecting religious sensibilities and upholding fundamental rights to speech and inquiry.
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References
References
- Quran 2:256
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