Can you blashpheme, if you are speaking of a religion in which you don't believe?

Question

I spend a lot of time on the religion and spirituality board, and I keep seeing people accuse each other of blaspheming. Specifically, I keep seeing people who adhere to certain faith paths accusing people who don't and who speak negatively of said faith paths accuse the non-believers of blasphemy.

However, I wonder if blasphemy instead of being defined as any statement by a non-believer against a religion, should be defined as statements expressing doubts by a speaker who already believes.

Now, the problem with that definiton is that it suggests that doubting is a bad thing, instead of an opportunity to examine one's faith in depth.

However, it does seem slightly strange to suggest that people who don't believe would be held to the same standards as people who do.

But, if you apply the analogy about sinning. I do believe it is possible for people who don't follow my faith path to sin. And so that analogy suggests the opposite.

What do you think? I'm running out of wo

Thrasymachus -- Its confirmed now!

Answer 1

Well I suppose one can blaspheme any religion, but I don't think it can occur accidentally. Blasphemy isn't doubt & it isn't a faux pas. It's deliberately attacking the sacred or something regarded as sacred. If I mocked a Hindu god, though I'm not Hindu, that could be blasphemy, because I know Hindu gods are part of the realm of the sacred -- if only in the culture of Hinduism.

On the other hand, blasphemy is a paradoxical term. Would there really be people who deliberately set out to 'blaspheme', say, the Christian God while still believing in him? It seems unlikely. What one sees quite often is people in an ostensibly Christian culture attacking the God or the religion of their own culture from the perspective of unbelief. So perhaps the category of 'blasphemy' is then a term of power: dominant Christians who want to force society to be, or become, Christian, use 'blasphemy' as a word to condemn those who reject their attempts to attain power. It's a subject worth thinking more about.

But regardless, obviously 'blasphemy' is an emotionally charged term and slinging it around -- especially in a free-for-all zone like R&S -- is asking for trouble. Anti-religious trolls, religious trolls... to hell with them all. Anyone who can't behave civilly isn't worth the effort of talking to anyway.

(BTW, peacedevi, I received your message. Would like to respond, please confirm your email or send me your email address. Thanks.)

Answer 2

The great Sufi Persian poet, Rumi put it this way:

"Nature is THE religion and the Universe THE Book."

Words have power and the misuse of words can cause terrible ramifications.

There are those people in the world who believe that all religious and spiritual paths lead to the one and only God.

There is one power and one presence in the universe that is the same for all beings in this world and elsewhere.

Anyone is free not to believe, anyone can say anything about religion and spirituality. But what really matters is the quality of our thinking and the truth of our actions.

Answer 3

There is a catitizm question & answer that goes like this. WHAT IS SIN? answer.....sin is anything that in word, thought and dead that is against the will of God. For he who knows what is sin and fails to do it, for him that is sin. Ok that excludes non believers when it comes to accountability.

Another an swer to your question of Blasphemy....can a non believer be commiting blasphemy if they don't believe?
My personal answer would be this.......if the thing or person beling blasphmed is true , then it is indeed blasphmous. Otherwise the blasmothy is just another word in the wind.

(forgive my mispellings, spell check isn't working)

Answer 4

Accusations of blasphemy has long been used as a shield for those seeking power. As long as a person does not adhere to the same faith as you do, they cannot blaspheme. They are only guilty of a fauxpas at most.

Answer 5

I'd say that blasphemy is performed by either a believer, or a non-believer. To speak irreverently of God, or someone else's concept of God, is still considered blaspheming. It is not necessary to be irreverent if one is doubting one's faith. And, if one is a non-believer, it seems curious that they would want to speak in a derogatory way toward a supreme being. After all, they don't believe, so to whom are they addressing this statement?

Answer 6

In the USA most people know what is blasphemy. The old saying, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do." The public should respect others by not doing what would incite them.

Answer 7

Well, that which was plasphemous in a past now becomes a norm.What is blasphemy? it has nothing to do with God...It is attak on legislated canons of belief. You cannot examen Faith of another, you can only examen your own. Faith and belief is different quantity...

Answer 8

To blaspheme is to speak ill of God or deny His existence. There are thousands of religions and thousands of false gods. There is only one true God, and whether you belive in Him or not, you can blaspheme. As for which religion is right -- read what I believe to be the word of God, the Holy Bible. Do not take someone elses word for it. Read it for yourself if you have not because in the end we will all answer for ourselves to Him.

Answer 9

1. to speak impiously or irreverently of (God or sacred things).
2. to speak evil of; slander; abuse.
3. to speak irreverently of God or sacred things; utter impieties.
so yeah you can. I mean if I speak badly about Allah I am blaspheming even if I am a Christian. (Would I do this no, because well why speak badly of a faith I don't believe in)
anyway good points in the rest of your writing.

Answer 10

Hells bells alive I can do it to religions I do believe in!!!!! I'm Drampor and God absolutely adores me, I'm told this again and again by all the religious folk from every belief there is. Life is grand, well it is for me!!!