Is Blasphemy a Victimless Crime?

Question

Who is a victim? If God exists does he need an inferior man made law to defend him? Is he, an omnipotent supreme being really that bothered by a mere little human? And if it's religious people's feelings that need protecting, surely that's undemocratic. If I call a communists's ideas stupid or President Bush an idiot that's ok. So why is it 'bad' to call Catholisism crazy or Islam cruel or the idea of God repugnant?

Answer 1

The only victims of blasphemy are those who get punished for doing it.

Answer 2

It's not even a crime. I do believe witchcraft was also removed from the statute books in all civilized countries centuries ago.
Religious peeps believe 'cos they are DUMB (you got that all you freaks?? Say Yas Boss!.. Can't hearya??) I don't 'cos I'm SMART (big letters for the illiterati!)
Do not worry bout fendin' any mythical sky fairy..worry instead about annoying me!
I am constantly amazed by the inane insane religious rubbish you get on these sites, obv ignorance an' stupidity are congenital among the poor white trash inbred red-neck trailer dwellers.
I certainly do not get this kinda crap fro' the good peeps down my way..they know betta!
Anyone like 2 pop their freakin head 'bove the parapet? Yo' can be traced y'know!
Seriously though..does it not worry you that these religious freaks may be among us w8in' 2 erupt in a frenzy at any time..planting bombs in your neighbourhood..machine-gunning in shopping malls..would you want or trust any of them to be around..surely YA has a responsibility to trace them and get them sectioned and restrained!

Answer 3

Blasphemy isn't a victimless crime (in terms of religion). Blasphemy is teaching falsehoods within the religion. In other words, if the religion teaches that you should honor your mother, that is a truth in the religion. A blasphemer could teach that you don't have to always honor your mother. Lots of exceptions. That would be a falsehood as it is not a truth of that religion. Makes it impossible to practice your religion if you are incorrectly taught, but worse, actions and judgements can be made based on this incorrect teaching.

Hope my example is clear as mud.

Answer 4

You've hit the nail on the head. Religions are protected by an invisible barrier that somehow excludes them from criticism. You can't attack religion and ask it to prove itself 'just because'.

If a scientist proposes a radical theory and asks us all to change our way of living, then we rightly ask said scientist for some proof. We test the theory and see whether it's sound. With religion, which has incredible power in our communities and even our government (how many people feel comfortable when George W Bush spends time thinking and listening to God before making major decisions about things like going to war?), we are simply told to accept it. I think this is ludicrous. Religion should be an individual's choice, but it should have no power over a country, no voice in politics and should not attempt to force people to change their lives.

It is 'bad' to call any religion crazy because they have existed for so long and have so many followers. It's 'rude' to question a person's faith or make fun of it. Just because.

Here's a light-hearted example of the absurdity of the situation we have:

A couple of years ago I was seeing a girl who was a strong Christian. At the pub (alcohol's ok, see...), I jokingly argued with her over which was the better 'miracle' (n.b. purely for fun, not because I believe either occurred as they are said to have)- Moses' the parting of the sea or Jesus walking on water (IMO it's the former...). My then girlfriend almost had a fit when I ventured to ask the group this question, because 'loads of them are Christian!'. Suffice to say a small argument broke out between she and I, during which I asked why it's so awful to ask a silly question like that, just because it deals with some of the content of the bible and some of those drinking with us were Christian. This is just a silly example, but it's this sort of sensitivity and 'no, you can't talk about RELIGION in that way!' that is so absurd, and aplified throughout the world. Would a group of scientists have lost their temper and demanded that a discussion over 'which scientific discovery is cooler: the theory or X or Y?' not be had? I doubt it.

Why are religions so protected? If I start my own group tomorrow and claim that an invisible goat called Meredith tells me the secrets of the universe, I will be labelled insane, and my group pulled to bits. Any religion that's been around for a while is immune from this, purely BECAUSE they've been around for so long. It's high time this was stopped.

Some religious folks claim that THEIR religion is not doing harm (and of course, THEIR religion is right). The truth is, when religions exist there is war. Without religion we might not have groups like the Taleban. I say 'might' because if crazed individuals like those involved in the Taleban want to form a group, they will form it with or without religion- the point is, forming their group around a religion gives them additional strength, makes it easier to recruit members and gives the group more credibility.

I'm with you (the asker) 100%- it's time for a change. We don't necessarily need to poke fun at religions, but this invisible, inpenetrable wall of protection that surrounds them needs to come down.

Answer 5

Do you understand what Blasphemy is?

Mr 3:28 Verily I say unto you *, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme:
Mr 3:29 But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never * * * forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:
Mr 3:30 Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit.
So as you see you can blaspheme against God and Christ and be forgiven. It is the Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit that is unforgivable. And Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is calling the Holy Spirit evil or unclean.
God bless

Answer 6

Because as we all know, man has questions that need answering, but religion has answers that need questioning.

Blasphemy is a handy clause enforced by churches, to stop religious subscribers from questioning the truth.

Answer 7

it truly is up to you. though awareness of ones self is truly the problem . if we were more aware of ones self and our essence that is god we would know that blasphemy really is a self condemnation . to blaspheme against god truly has no meaning in the scheme of things. it is merely a physical truth of ones lack of awareness.and those that react to it . prove they do not know god.

Answer 8

No. Many times people influence people to follow their example and the result is many victims indeed

Answer 9

because you only talked about Islam and catholiscism's idea of god repugnant. you have to include ALL religions and then its okay.

honestly they're all sort of looney. some just less looney than others

Answer 10

Exodus 20:7 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

to say that the extremely personal, omniscient Creator of all people doesn't take comeplete notice of what His people say or do is to call God inadequate. and that is an oxymoron.

if you make personal transgression against the Lord... it is a good way to invite His scrutiny. and who can stand against the will of the Lord? He will do as He pleases.

if you commit blasphemy, you are the victim... you are under judgement, for you have broken the law of God, blatantly. and if you have influenced others to do the same, that judement is also upon you.

therefor repent!