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Sunday, January 18, 2009 Bonfire of the Vanities

In Pinochet's coup d'etat, books were burnt. Savonarola, the Dominican monk who burnt books in Renaissance Florence, was bent on getting rid of things which tempt people to sin. In May 2008, the city of Or Yehuda, Israel, witnessed the burning of the New Testament: a clear violation of Israeli laws which do not allow the destruction of religious materials.

Which example among these three stood out as the worst motive behind book burning? Destroying to prevent political awakening and opposition? To mistakenly (or some may argue that Savonarola was walking the path of a true biblical prophet) destroy cultural artefacts, among other valid vanities like cosmetics and mirrors, in order to save decadent lost souls? Or to participate in religious persecution to uphold the current religious status quo?

Wow, I'm like a TA already. I flatter myself. Haha. Just some food for thought.