Articles by Albert Kienle

I wanted to share these articles with you. Albert Kienle is a member of my church and I through you might enjoy his opinions.

CARTOON CONTROVERSY(by Albert Kienle – used with permission)

I believe in freedom of speech and religious freedom and we should not allow threats of violence to censor these freedoms. Threats and intimidation do not justify a decision not to publish the cartoons. However I believe that respect for the deep beliefs of others and an intention not to offend do. No right is absolute and with a right comes the responsibility to exercise a right prudently. Self-censorship based on principle is a mark of civility.

In a society that claims to be respectful of diversity, freedom must include self-restraint and openness to understanding what is sacred to others. While freedom of speech may include offensive speech, freedom is not strengthened by slandering others.

The Christian faith profoundly shaped our Canadian culture and provided the very foundation for the affirmation of the equal dignity of all persons upon which freedom of religion, expression and conscience are rooted. We need a more mature liberty. ~ Albert Kienle


CARTOON CONTROVERSY 2(by Albert Kienle – used with permission)

A cartoon depicting Jesus giving oral sex to a pig and published in the University of Saskatchewan's weekly paper The Sheaf, has offended many, including university students. Other cartoons, movies and paintings depicting Jesus as married, a homosexual or tormented makes you wonder whether Muslims are over the top or Christians are too timid. If Christians were to take to violence over, say, the new DaVinci Code movie, we would be seen as crazy. But it is as heretical as The Last Temptation of Christ.

Paul Marshall, a scholar on the issue, says it is a myth that Islam prohibits visual portrayals of the prophet and details the places where portraits of Muhammad can be found across the Muslim world. No, the problem is rather the linking of the image of the prophet with violence. And that is the same problem I have with linking Jesus with gross immorality, making Him less than the sinless Saviour.

The media outlets that have refused to publish the Muhammad cartoons based on the argument of their respect for religion must be applauded but we must remind them of their stance if they air material that is offensive to Christians. ~Albert Kienle