What are we going to consider?
What constitutes blasphemy.
The law on blasphemy.
Examples of blasphemy against
Christianity and Islam.
What Christianity and Islam say about
blasphemy.
What is ‘blasphemy’?
Blasphemy refers to the act of offending deeply
held religious beliefs.
More specifically it is:
A contemptuous or profane act,
utterance, or writing concerning God
or a sacred entity.
The act of claiming for oneself the
attributes and rights of God.
An irreverent or impious act, attitude,
or utterance in regard to something
considered inviolable or sacrosanct.
The Law:
The blasphemy law, first
created
in
1838,
gives
protection to the Church of
England only.
This protection of the Church of
England results from it being the
established or official Church in
England.
In 2001 there was an attempt to revise or remove this law:
"There will come a
moment when it
will be appropriate
for the blasphemy
law to find its place
in history.” (David
Blunkett)
"It seems to me that if we are going
to make an incitement to religious
hatred a crime that will cover people
of all beliefs and those of no belief
...then there should not be any
special further protection for the
Church of England.” (Frank Dobson)
Richard Harries, Bishop of Oxford, has
said that the Church of England has
always backed finding a workable
alternative to the blasphemy law.
What do you think?
Blasphemy & Islam
Blasphemy is a crime within most
Muslim countries. For example, in
Pakistan it is a crime which results in
the death penalty.
Blasphemy is an issue that may
effect Islam more than any other
religion because of the fundamental
Muslim belief that the Qur’an is the
most perfect divine revelation.
Blasphemy & Islam
The Satanic Verses, published in 1989, takes its
name from a legend that claims that some of
the Qur’an’s verses originated from Satan.
Traditionally, it is held that these were
withdrawn and denounced by Muhammad. By
repeating this legend, Rushdie offended
Muslims by associating the Qur’an with the
work of Satan.
Salman Rushdie also describes the mis-reporting
of the Qur’an and the mocking of
Muhammad’s wives.
Christian attitudes towards
blasphemy:
‘You shall not take the name of the
Lord your God in vain.’
Exodus 20:7
‘..but whoever blasphemes against the
Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but
is guilty of an eternal sin.’
Mark3:29
Blasphemy & Christianity