In this issue of A Public Witness, we’ll look at what canceling is — and isn’t. We’ll also consider the Christian virtue lacking in our politics, culture, and churches when our first reaction is to silence others whose opinions differ from our own.
“Cancel culture” is not wholly embraced on the left, nor is it unknown among political or religious conservatives. In fact, cancel culture should have a ring of familiarity for Christians with echoes of the phenomenon in the history of the church.
Responses to the number of people infected by COVID-19 (coronavirus) have effectively shut down many parts of the world. In Italy, restrictions led to a bathtub baptism of a new believer, streamed live on the internet.