https://www.ftsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/Januray-February-2023-Ezine.pdf
More than a third of the world’s countries have blasphemy laws that ban criticism of religious beliefs, symbols, and figures. In several countries, the penalty is death. Blasphemy laws supply a false legitimacy to those who commit acts of murder and terrorism. (Think Salman Rushdie.) Not only do blasphemy laws harm atheists and humanists, but also any dissident or minority faith. Surprisingly, a number of predominately Christian countries still have blasphemy laws on their books, including Australia, Austria, Brazil, Finland, Italy, Poland, Spain, and Switzerland. However, these blasphemy laws are rarely enforced. Not so in countries where Islam is the state religion or where Muslims are a majority. For example, in Afghanistan, penalties for blasphemy may include execution by hanging. There is a death penalty for blasphemy in Pakistan as well as in Saudi Arabia. In Iran, the law against blasphemy includes criticizing the Islamic government, insulting Islam, and publishing materials that deviate from Islamic standards. In Kuwait, there is a “family values” penalty for insulting "God, the Holy Quran, Prophets, the Noble Companions of Prophet Muhammad, Wives of the Prophet, or persons who are part of the Prophet's family."
More than a third of the world’s countries have blasphemy laws that ban criticism of religious beliefs, symbols, and figures. In several countries, the penalty is death. Blasphemy laws supply a false legitimacy to those who commit acts of murder and terrorism. (Think Salman Rushdie.) Not only do blasphemy laws harm atheists and humanists, but also any dissident or minority faith. Surprisingly, a number of predominately Christian countries still have blasphemy laws on their books, including Australia, Austria, Brazil, Finland, Italy, Poland, Spain, and Switzerland. However, these blasphemy laws are rarely enforced. Not so in countries where Islam is the state religion or where Muslims are a majority. For example, in Afghanistan, penalties for blasphemy may include execution by hanging. There is a death penalty for blasphemy in Pakistan as well as in Saudi Arabia. In Iran, the law against blasphemy includes criticizing the Islamic government, insulting Islam, and publishing materials that deviate from Islamic standards. In Kuwait, there is a “family values” penalty for insulting "God, the Holy Quran, Prophets, the Noble Companions of Prophet Muhammad, Wives of the Prophet, or persons who are part of the Prophet's family."
I’m certainly no fan of that old time religion, but I do prefer in some ways the old-time blasphemy laws to a newer version that purports to be more tolerant. The old kind only criminalizes critiques of the one True religion, with a capital T. A new kind not only criminalizes critiques of the one True religion, but also criminalizes critiques of any religion, as in Bangladesh, where there are penalties for hurting the sentiments of the followers of any religion or its venerable figures. In Egypt, it is illegal to ridicule or insult a heavenly religion or a sect following it. Even rhetoric under the guise of sensitivity, such as hurting religious feelings, can stifle opposition and be made illegal. The European Court of Human Rights has asserted a universal "right to respect for religious feelings," while the United Nations has condemned anything that could be categorized as "advocacy of religious hatred."
Freedom of expression must include the right to criticize any belief, whether religious, political, or otherwise. Without this essential liberty, dissent can be suppressed and silenced by labeling it as “defamation” or “blasphemy.” I think people should be treated with respect, but ideas are not people. We must be allowed to criticize or mock bad ideas (including religion) without fear of legal consequences.
The Bible and Quran both contain ridiculous passages and reasonable passages. People can quote portions of their “holy” books to support loving their neighbor or killing their (infidel) neighbor. Both books give justifications for theological terrorism, including genocide, holy wars, slavery, misogyny, and death for crimes like blasphemy, homosexuality, and worshipping the wrong god or even the right god in the wrong way.
Thomas Aquinas said: “Blasphemy is the most grievous sin because it is committed directly against God. It’s more grievous than murder, which is a sin against one's neighbor.” Blasphemy laws supposedly protect an omniscient and all-powerful deity from having its feelings hurt. It is not an imaginary deity whose feelings get hurt by blasphemy, just the feelings of religious leaders who believe they have the right to control what others say.
If a religion considers certain words to be blasphemy or a sin, their leaders are free to sanction their own members, including kicking them out of that religion. The problem occurs when they feel they can take action against those outside their faith.
Those of us who point out that emperors of all religions have no clothes are considered blasphemous by any standard. But what about people who are required by their religion to blaspheme against other religions? Those who take the Christian Bible literally blaspheme against Jews when they recite Mathew 27:25: “The blood of Jesus will be on all Jews and on their children.” Those who endorse the First Commandment, “Thou shalt have no other gods but Yahweh,” are blaspheming against people who promote Jesus, Allah, or one of the 7000 other god candidates. In fact, I’m blaspheming against Orthodox Jews by violating the Third Commandment, taking the Lord’s name in vain. Technically, I should write G-d instead of God.
By such criteria, we are all blasphemers. But wait, there’s an out! You are only guilty of blasphemy when thin-skinned religionists display bad manners. The “crime” of blasphemy has little to do with what you say, and lots to do with how others feel about what you say or write. Religious leaders who claim to speak for God may become so insulted and outraged that they want you silenced and punished. In other words, those who are opposed to free speech determine what is blasphemy.
Who among us believes that every Sunday people literally eat the body and drink the blood of Jesus Christ, that the angel Moroni led Joseph Smith to a magic stone that helped him translate gold plates from Egyptian hieroglyphics into English, and that the Quran was given to Muhammad by the angel Gabriel? Some may believe one of these stories, but nobody believes all three. Everyone thinks at least two of these three religious stories are foolish. And speaking of foolish, I’ve often been given a biblical explanation for why I’m foolish, quoting Psalm 14:1: “The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God.” (Actually, I use my brain, not my heart, to reach that conclusion.)
I’m not upset when people call me foolish, but I would be upset were someone punished for telling me what they believed to be true. We support the right of people to give what they view as constructive criticism. Atheists don’t insist on the right not to be insulted, just on the right to be treated as others.
Many great scientific advances were once thought to be heresy (think evolution). Several new religions sprang from blaspheming old religions, questioning or criticizing the “sacred.” The dominant religion in this country was a protest religion, reflected in its name, Protestant. If I said we would be better off if we had no sacred cows, that could be construed as blasphemy against the Hindu religion. And if I said blasphemy is a victimless crime, well that, too, could be considered blasphemous.
So what can we do about blasphemy laws? Consider participating in International Blasphemy Rights Day, observed each September 30, the anniversary of the mass violence over the “Danish cartoons” of the Prophet Muhammad. Such “blasphemy” angered Muslims around the world, many of whom expressed disapproval by participating in violent protests, riots, and sometimes murder.
It’s a day to show solidarity with those who challenge oppressive laws, social prohibitions, and prevailing religious beliefs. The day was established by the Center for Inquiry (CFI) in 2009 to reassert our commitment to defending the right to question and criticize religious claims. We want to help atheists, religious minorities, and dissidents abroad who are persecuted for challenging religious norms and authorities.
CFI’s Secular Rescue program https://secular-rescue.org provides emergency assistance to those courageous writers, bloggers, publishers, and activists who face threats due to their beliefs or expressions regarding religion. The program helps individuals and families find safety and peace so they can continue their work and move on with their lives.
