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A New Inquisition Paperback – 15 Jun 2010

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Jon Gower Davies (Author)
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Jon Gower Davies (Author)
4.2 out of 5 stars 4 customer reviews
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Product details

  • Paperback: 77 pages
  • Publisher: Civitas: Institute for the Study of Civil Society; First Edition edition (15 Jun. 2010)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1906837155
  • ISBN-13: 978-1906837150
  • Product Dimensions: 0.6 x 12.7 x 19 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 805,737 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Product Description

About the Author

Jon Gower Davies retired from the University of Newcastle ten years ago. He lectured, first, in the Social Studies Department, and then in the Department of Religious Studies, of which he was Head. For 20 years he was a Labour Councillor on Newcastle City Council. He is the author and editor of books and articles on a wide range of topics, including Bonfires on the Ice: the multicultural harrying of Britain and In Search of the Moderate Muslim published by the Social Affairs Unit; and on attitudes to death and dying in the ancient religions of the world, published by Routledge. He has a particular interest in war and war memorials as definers of what he calls Eurochristianity . He was born in North Wales. From there, after the war, he went with his family to Kenya, then a British colony. He lived in Mombasa, went to school in Nairobi, and travelled widely through East Africa. After a short spell in the Kenya Regiment, a part of the British Army, he left for England to attend Oxford University. Two years in America, which included attending Brandeis University and participating in the Freedom Summer in Mississippi, ended with his return to England. Since 1965, he has lived in Newcastle upon Tyne with his wife Jean. They have three children, who now have children of their own. He is a communicant member of the Church of England.

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4.0 out of 5 starsRead this book
By Planck on 2 Sept. 2010
Format: Paperback
In this short book, 'The New Inquisition', Jon Gower Davies lays out the case against 'hate legislation' in general and 'religious hate' in particular. He details the case of a couple in Liverpool who ran a B&B. One morning they had a discussion about religion with a convert Muslim. The Muslim complained to the Police that the couple had abused her religion. The case ended in court with the couple facing criminal charges on the one hand, and as a bonus finding their livelihood endangered because pusillanimous bureaucrats in the NHS stopped using their B&B. Non of this should have happened in a secular free society, but it did. With some justification he broadens his attack to all hate legislation and also exposes the role of the media as self appointed judge and jury demonising those not in their favour.

While the religious hatred legislation applies to all religions, Islamists have created an environment where people are unwilling to challenge Islamic teaching or Islamic culture. Comedians don't tell jokes about Muslims they way they do about Christians, something that clearly rankles with Jon Davies. Fear has driven the ridicule that Islam is entitled to underground. That's dangerous.

It is only secular societies that have to date allowed many faiths and races to co-exist, but the fundamentals of public freedom need to be protected from the demands of threatening or vociferous groups.

In a mirror to John Stuart Mill, who argued that freedoms are limited not only by government but also by our friends and neighbours, Jon Davies argues that the historical accommodations reached with our friends and neighbours should be recognised and valued.
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4.0 out of 5 starsMatters of great importance.
By Bluecashmere. TOP 500 REVIEWER on 23 Mar. 2015
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
I stand squarely behind all that is said in this book. In addition, I agree entirely with the additional sentiments given force in the two reviews currently on board.

In some ways it is interesting that such a book derives from a head of Religious Studies. The Church has not always been in the forefront of defending free speech; witness the blasphemy laws so recently in effect as Mr. Davies readily acknowledges and discusses. In that connection it is also well worth noting the recent, forthright statement on the subject from the present Archbishop of Canterbury. Some might think it strange that now we should be looking to church leaders to be in the vanguard of standing firm on this important issue. Or, perhaps more importantly, that our political leaders are largely mute on the subject.

I’d be inclined to argue that there is no more important political issue facing us than the issue of free speech. Shaw’s statement that he might hate and loathe someone’s opinions, but that he would defend to the death their right to voice them publicly, would at one time have compelled pretty universal consent. Today, so many seem to have been brainwashed by the tide of political correctness that they are blind to what has been sacrificed, most vitally respect for reason and our traditional freedoms; most importantly the freedom to give voice to what may not be palatable to those of a different persuasion.

Mr Davies’ particular concern in this essay is to expose the confusion and dangers issuing from the “hate laws.” This he undertakes by close reference to particular cases. These are discussed in a previous review so I shall not repeat then here. What above all Mr Davies stresses is the absurdity of the wording of such legislation.Read more ›
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4.0 out of 5 starsSpirited defence of free speech
By William Podmore on 27 Jan. 2016
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
In this lively and thought-provoking little book, Jon Gower Davies argues passionately for our freedom of speech. The British people have a great tradition of thinking for ourselves rather than just obeying orders. Davies argues that the law should not be used to suppress unpopular views but to protect free speech.

He shows us that the growth in accusations of ‘hate crime’ threatens freedom of speec. He warns us that laws against religious hatred remove matters better dealt with in civil society to the domain of the state and the courts.

He examines the case of Ben and Sharon Vogelenzang. As a result of a conversation with a Muslim woman, they were accused of a religiously aggravated hate crime and the police, advised by the Crown Prosecution Service, prosecuted the Vogelenzangs under the Public Order Acts, as amended by the ‘Religious Hatred’ section of the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act of 2001.

Davies shows how the case should never have come to court. Judge Richard Clancy said, when rightly dismissing the case against the Vogelenzangs, “the European Union gives us all a right to religious freedom.”

Of course, we owe our freedoms not to the EU but to our history of struggle for freedoms against the repressions of state and church.

When the Racial and religious Hatred Act was passed in 2006, its Clause 29J entitled ‘Protection of Freedom of Expression’ said, “Nothing in this Part shall be read or given effect in a way which prohibits or restricts discussion, criticism or expressions of antipathy, dislike, ridicule, insult or abuse of particular religions or the beliefs or practices of their adherents, or of any other belief system or the beliefs or practices of its adherents, or proselytising or urging adherents of a different religion or belief system to cease practising their religion or belief system.”
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