“Bad Theology’ and Religious Terror

On the morning of the 7 January 2015 heavily armed gunmen burst into the Paris office of the French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo and murdered at least 12 people. The dead were journalists (including four of the most popular cartoonists in France) and two policemen, one of whom was shot at close range while appearing to surrender.

Early reports suggest that the gunmen shouted ‘Allahu Akbar’ during the shooting but links to Al-Qaeda, Islamic State or other Islamic terrorist groups have yet to be established.

If any of the horrible variety of Islamic terror groups do claim responsibility, or if it turns out to be a ‘home grown’ attack, journalists are once again on the front lines in an ideological war. Seen through the eyes of the ‘West’ this conflict is mediated through the terms of the Enlightenment and the French Revolution. ‘Liberté, égalité, fraternité’ versus the monochrome vision of groups like Al-Qaeda and IS where ideologies are imposed and enforced at the end of a Kalashnikov and (loosely defined of course) ‘offense’ to the prophet is considered a capital crime.

Journalists are on the ‘front line’ of this battle. However, in the war of ideologies, missiles, bombs and cartoons are as effective as shadows on a wall. We know only too well that even a well-aimed missile risks spawning more willing jihadists than it kills. Satirical cartoons are a good symbol of defiance at being told what is or what is not acceptable to sketch but they make few converts. No, to really win this fight theologians must join the trenches.