Ireland and the law against blasphemy

I heard about this through another pod - any thoughts?

Father Ted creators back challenge to the blasphemy bill

The creators of the Father Ted television series have denouncedIreland's proposed blasphemy laws as “insanity” and pledged to support a campaign to repeal them.Arthur Mathews and Graham Linehan backed moves by a group of Irish secularists to challenge the bill against blasphemy introduced in the Dáil last week. Atheist Ireland said this weekend that it will publish a statement blaspheming all the major religions in Ireland, including Christianity and Islam. The group said it would be a calculated challenge to the law.Under the Irish constitution, the state is obliged to have blasphemy laws. The bill going through the Dáil would amend the Defamation Act of 1961, which includes blasphemy as a crime. To abolish blasphemy laws, the government would have to hold a referendum to amend the constitution. The duo, who wrote a host of other TV comedies such as Big Train, described the blasphemy law contained in the new bill covering defamation in Ireland as “a return to the Middle Ages”.Linehan told the Observer that the justice minister Dermot Ahern, who introduced the bill, should be challenged to define what he meant by blasphemy. “This is insanity. Please, Mr Ahern, define the things we can't say, please! Can we say, 'Jesus is gay'? Or can we ask, 'Is God in a biscuit?' Could he tell us what it means? It is just insanity. After all, there are things contained in the holy books of one religion that are blasphemy to another religion. The logic behind this comes from Alice in Wonderland.” He said the Irish blasphemy law was part of a trend in the west where freedom of expression was being attacked “to placate the craziest people on earth”…

Re: Ireland and the law against blasphemy

hmm…this is really interesting…I guess the best argument against this is that Ireland doesn't have an official religion that can't be blasphemed. If an atheist can't make statements of their system of disbelief because it would go against Christianity, than a Christian wouldn't be able to make statements about their belief because it would go against atheism.

The only real reason why I am willing to defend those whom I disagree with is that I would expect them to treat me in the same way. Would it not be just as blasphemous to an atheist for me to say “there is a God” as it would for them to say “there is no god”? I respect their right to say whatever they think, because I enjoy that right in my own life :)

Peace and Joy,
Alexa

Re: Ireland and the law against blasphemy

Hi Alexa, that's exactly the problem as I see it. How could a believer or non-believer avoid “blasphemous” comments - in the opinion of some religionists/atheists? It just makes no sense to me.

To start fining people for stating the truth as they believe it seems ridiculous and totally counterproductive. I am bemused that this is being fast-tracked without debate.

Love,

Nicole 

Re: Ireland and the law against blasphemy

I just got a look at this one. Usually “blasphemy” is anything that dosen't agree with the status quo.
At least, in my experence it has been.
Make you wonder how people have the gaul to set themselves up as the final athority on what “God” says.

Re: Ireland and the law against blasphemy

It does make one wonder, indeed, Liz!

Re: Ireland and the law against blasphemy

Last time I checked Ireland was a free nation. This law is dumb. I assure you The Lord can withstand blasphemy, in fact I am sure God is beyond being phased by it.

Re: Ireland and the law against blasphemy

I have to agree with Mr. on the is one :D

Shalom,
Dov

Re: Ireland and the law against blasphemy

oh, same here, Dov and Mr, it wasn't God I was worried about on this one…

love,

nicole