-Submitted by David Drumm (Nal), Guest Blogger
The Vatican claims that the covers are illegal and “harm the holy father’s legal rights.” That must refer to the right not to be offended.
A state court in Hamburg issued the temporary restraining order under which Titanic is not allowed to distribute the July issue or publish it on the internet. Issues already in circulation will be snapped up as collector’s items.
This is a perfect example of the Streisand Effect, where the publicity surrounding the suppression exceeds the publicity originally generated. The use of blasphemy laws to censor speech and the press is of greater concern than the fact that Benedict likes Fanta.
There is an inherent conflict between the dogma of the Catholic Church and the freedom of expression displayed by the Titanic cover. As the arguments against religious dogma become easily available via the internet, the rational part of the human mind will be inexorably drawn away from the irrational beliefs that religion demands.
As Martin Luther said:
Reason is the greatest enemy that faith has; it never comes to the aid of spiritual things, but — more frequently than not — struggles against the divine Word, treating with contempt all that emanates from God.
From www.jesusandmo.net:
H/T: Secular News Daily, Der Spiegel.