Debate: How to talk about religion?

Religion – or that what is regarded as sacred by some – is a heavily loaded subject. For some it must be protected from any approach that would trivialize or rationalize it, for others the freedoms of thought, of expression, etc must be upheld unconditionally. This ‘untouchable’ position of religion, not allowing any criticism, makes it the ideal subject for artists – especially comedians and caricaturists. However, such artistic creations and formulations are sometimes the cause of very aggressive discussions. And it is no exception to see the freedom of expression severely limited by censorship or to be restricted because of judicial decisions about the 'defamation' of a religion and its followers. Can this tension between religion and freedom be resolved one day?

Flagey, Le Soir, Université Libre de Bruxelles, l’Observatoire des Religions et de la Laïcité, CEFRELCO