The right to offend and ‘the coddling of the American mind’

Chris Sinkinson  |  Features  |  defending our faith
Date posted:  1 Jan 2022
Share Add       
The right to offend and  ‘the coddling of the  American mind’

photo: iStock

Apologetics, like comedy, requires that we are able to challenge points of view, express unusual opinions and think outside of the box. Apologetics, also like comedy, is not to the taste of the easily offended.

In February 2021 Merseyside Police had to issue an apology over a poster campaign which had claimed ‘Being Offensive is an Offence’. The force had released an unfortunate media picture of a police van bearing the false claim and including four menacing police offers, one holding what could be interpreted as a cane. In the wake of widespread criticism it was withdrawn and the apology issued. According to the Crown Prosecution Service finding something offensive does not mean you are a victim of a crime and causing someone offence does not mean you have committed a crime.

All this sounds like common sense, which leads one to wonder what educated, well-paid public servant ever thought it right to create a poster bearing the statement ‘Being Offensive is an Offence’ in the first place? To answer that we need to pay attention to shifts in the climate of academia where there can be a reluctance to think out loud or express contrary views.

Share
< Previous article| Features| Next article >
Read more articles on:   America
Read more articles by Chris Sinkinson >>
Features
AI shedding new light on  ancient texts

AI shedding new light on ancient texts

From 1947, the recovery of fragments of Biblical texts in the region of the Dead Sea became one of the …

Features
See where they laid Him?

See where they laid Him?

Recent archaeological discoveries in Jerusalem are helping to pinpoint the location of the crucifixion of Jesus.The place of the …

Looking for a job?

Browse all our current job adverts

Search

Subscribe

Enjoy our monthly paper and full online access from just £18/year

Find out more