3.2.16

Free Speech

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Free Speech and Hate Speech

Freedom of speech is one of the most important aspects of a free society.

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Freedom of speech

  • Freedom of speech allows people to say what they think, even when they are wrong.
  • This allows people to openly criticise the policies of the leadership of the country.
  • But there has been growing debate about whether there should be limits to freedom of speech.
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Limits to freedom of speech

  • Should someone be free to shout 'Fire!' for fun in a crowded theatre, which might then result in stampede and death?
  • Should people be allowed to say things about a minority group that may cause them harm?
  • Can people say things that others find offensive?
  • Some religious people, for example, are offended when their core beliefs are ridiculed, such as attacks on the character of Muhammad or Jesus.
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Progress

  • The philosopher John Stuart Mill said that freedom of speech was essential to progress.
  • Stuart Mill said progress comes about when people discuss different points of view.
    • This is how we sift good ideas from bad ones.
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Free speech in universities

  • Universities are committed to the advancement of understanding.
  • In some universities invited speakers have been 'no-platformed'.
    • No-platforming is where someone is prevented from speaking publicly.
  • At Durham University members of the British National Party were no-platformed.
  • Many of the students objected to giving a platform to people who were anti-Semitic and viewed some races as superior to others.

Hate Speech

This section will look at the line between free speech and hate speech.

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Hate Speech

  • Free speech should be limited to not allow people to say things that may lead to hatred.
  • We have seen that the Nazis told lies about the Jews to incite the population to hate them.
    • This contributed to the Holocaust.
  • Hate speech can be defined as something untrue and designed to spread hate.
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What is true?

  • It is difficult to agree on who gets to decide which ideas are true.
  • If this is done by the majority, it can deny a voice to the minority.
  • If it is decided by political leaders it can weaken democracy by stifling criticism.
    • In recent times this has been the policy of the Chinese Government in Hong Kong.
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Extremism

  • In a society that believes in the value of freedom of speech, what are the limits?
  • Does it extend to people whose jokes offend, or who tell lies, or spread hate?
  • The French magazine Charlie Hebdo often made fun of religious ideas.
    • In 2015 it printed cartoons of Muhammad and was attacked in Paris by Al-Qaeda.

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1Year 7

1.1Origins of Abrahamic Faith

1.1.1Genesis

1.1.2Noah & the Flood

1.1.3The Importance of Noah

1.1.4Abraham

1.1.5The Covenant

1.1.6Abraham's Sacrifice

1.1.7Ibrahim's Sacrifice

1.1.8Ibrahim & Hajar

1.1.9Ibrahim & the Ka'aba

1.1.10Isaac & Jacob

1.1.11Moses & the Exodus

1.1.12The Tabernacle

1.1.13Leviticus & Sacrifice

1.1.14Teachings in Leviticus

1.1.15Jesus' Teachings

1.1.16Jesus the Rebel

1.1.17Jesus' Death & Resurrection

1.1.18The Meaning of Jesus' Sacrifice

1.1.19The Relationship Between Judaism & Christianity

1.1.20The Ka'aba

1.1.21The Prophet Muhammad

1.2Judaism

1.2.1What Do Jews Believe?

1.2.2Moses

1.2.3The Jewish Scriptures - The Written Law

1.2.4The Jewish Scriptures - The Oral Law

1.2.5The Tradition of Discussion & Debate

1.2.6Orthodox Judaism

1.2.7Reform Judaism

1.2.8The Daily Practices of Orthodox & Reform Jews

1.2.9The First Temple

1.2.10The Tabernacle's Journey & End

1.2.11Orthodox & Reform Synagogues

1.2.12What is Shabbat?

1.2.13Traditional Rituals for Shabbat

1.2.14What is Pesach?

1.2.15What is Yom Kippur?

1.2.16How Have Jews Been Persecuted?

1.2.17The Persecution of the Jews Throughout History

1.2.18The Black Death

1.2.19Antisemitism in Nazi Germany

1.2.20The Holocaust

1.2.21Genocide

1.2.22How the Holocaust has Impacted the Jewish Identity

1.2.23Holocaust Memorial

1.3Christianity

1.3.1The Nativity

1.3.2Christian Beliefs about the Baby Jesus

1.3.3Jesus' Ministry

1.3.4The Sermon on the Mount

1.3.5The Crucifixion

1.3.6The Last Supper

1.3.7The Resurrection

1.3.8Christian Beliefs about the Resurrection

1.3.9The Council of Nicaea

1.3.10The Nicene Creed

1.3.11Saint Augustine

1.3.12Protestantism

1.3.13The Reformation

1.3.14Christianity Today

1.3.15Evangelical Churches

1.3.16The Future of Christianity

1.4Buddhism

1.4.1Religion in India

1.4.2The Caste System

1.4.3Meditation

1.4.4Caste & Religion

1.4.5Puja

1.4.6Karma & the Cycle of Rebirth

1.4.7The Four Noble Truths

1.4.8The Three Marks of Existence

1.4.9The Buddha’s Noble Eightfold Path to Enlightenment

1.4.10How do Buddhists Live?

1.4.11The Four Sights

1.4.12The Buddha

1.4.13The Middle Way & Enlightenment

2Year 8

2.1Islam

2.1.1Pre-Islamic Arabia

2.1.2The Prophet Muhammad & The Qur'an

2.1.3The Hijrah & The Conquest of Mecca

2.1.4The Prophet Muhammad: The Final Sermon

2.1.5The Sunni/Shia Split

2.1.6Islamic Caliphates

2.1.7The Five Pillars of Islam

2.1.8Origins of Hajj

2.1.9Hajj Rituals

2.1.10Jihad

2.1.11Islam Today

2.2Hinduism

2.2.1The Prehistoric Roots of Hinduism

2.2.2Key Ideas in Hinduism

2.2.3The Caste System

2.2.4The Vedic Period

2.2.5The Upanishads

2.2.6Alexander the Great & The Mauryan Empire

2.2.7Revelation & The Sharing of Knowledge

2.2.8Understanding the Self

2.2.9Karma, Yoga & the Self

2.2.10The Divine Presence

2.2.11Hindu Statues and Icons

2.2.12British Colonialism & Gandhi

2.3Atheism

2.3.1Where Did Atheism Come From?

2.3.2The Impact of Scientific Developments

2.3.3Plato's Cave

2.3.4Challenging the Bible

2.3.5The Enlightenment

2.3.6Evolution

2.3.7Evolution & Religion

2.3.8Morality & God

2.3.9Morality Without God

2.3.10Frederick Nietzsche - How to Live Without Religion

2.3.11Militant Atheism

2.3.12Humanism

2.3.13The Future of Atheism

2.4Philosophy of Religion

2.4.1Who is God?

2.4.2Theists, Atheists & Agnostics

2.4.3Faith & Empiricism

2.4.4The Design Argument

2.4.5Is The Design Argument Convincing?

2.4.6The Cosmological Argument

2.4.7Criticisms of The Cosmological Argument

2.4.8The Problem of Evil

2.4.9Free Will Theodicy

2.4.10Soul-Making Theodicy

2.4.11Religious Experience

2.4.12Types of Religious Experience

2.4.13Criticisms of Religious Experience

3Year 9

3.1Life & Death

3.1.1What is the Right Thing To Do?

3.1.2Thomas Aquinas - Natural Law

3.1.3Building a Moral Code

3.1.4Criticisms of Natural Law

3.1.5Joseph Fletcher - Situation Ethics

3.1.6Understanding Situation Ethics

3.1.7Criticisms of Situation Ethics

3.1.8Sanctity of Life

3.1.9Quality of Life

3.1.10Abortion

3.1.11Moral Questions About Abortion

3.1.12Euthanasia

3.1.13Moral Questions About Euthanasia

3.1.14Capital Punishment

3.1.15Arguments Against Captial Punishment

3.1.16Animal Rights

3.1.17Alternative Views on Animal Rights

3.2Extremism

3.2.1What Does Extremism Mean?

3.2.2Extremism Explained

3.2.3Why do People Become Extremists?

3.2.4What are Conspiracy Theories?

3.2.5Why do People Believe Conspiracy Theories?

3.2.6What is Anti-Semitism?

3.2.7Anti-Semitic Stereotyping

3.2.8The Holocaust

3.2.9After the Holocaust

3.2.10Religious Fundamentalism

3.2.11The Problem of Fundamentalism

3.2.12Nationalism

3.2.13Nationalism & Extremism

3.2.14What is a Terrorist?

3.2.15Political & Religious Terrorism

3.2.16Free Speech

3.2.17Hate Speech

3.2.18How do we Fight Extremism?

3.3Equality

3.3.1Introduction to Equality

3.3.2Is the UK an Equal Society?

3.3.3Religion and Equality

3.3.4Interpreting the Scripture

3.3.5Racism and Scripture

3.3.6Scripture Against Racism

3.3.7The Fight for Racial Equality

3.3.8Gender Equality and Scripture

3.3.9Gender Equality; Women in Worship

3.3.10LGBTQ+ Matters

3.3.11The Fight for LGBTQ+ Equality

3.3.12Disability Matters

3.3.13The Fight for Disability Equality

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Political & Religious Terrorism

Hate Speech