Welcome To Ireland, circa 1081 A.D.

[filkertom]

Blasphemy is now illegal. I'm sure that won't cause any problems.

Goddamn morons.

How can they claim their god is all-powerful when He is so weak, pitiful, and defenseless that they have to outlaw saying potentially bad things about Him?

Gaaaaaaaaah.

(h/t Daily Kos)

Comments

[sethb]

I wonder if I can prefer charges against all Christian churches for their blasphemous violation of the First Commandment (and the Second in most cases).

[joshuwain.livejournal.com]

This is why people want to set up communes: it's not because they want little enclaves of "fandom" ... it's because they want to be free.

Damn it.

Why can't I just buy some distant patch of land? I really want to give a crack at disproving that old adage "No man is an island..."

[rsmit212.livejournal.com]

Not defending or condemning the law, but it isn't God that is harmed via blasphemy, but the "weak, pitiful, and defenseless" humans listening to it that are potentially harmed. Personally, I think God doesn't give a crap about blasphemy past the sadness over the little minds that refuse to see beyond themselves. *shrug* Other's opinions vary.

[filkerdave.livejournal.com]

*sigh*

And I always wanted to go there, but, you know, that whole being Jewish thing versus that whole messiah thing...

[selenesue.livejournal.com]

Examining the text of the law carefully... it appears to be even handed, not Catholic-centric. And literary, artistic and political speech is defensible. However, the section on "seizure of blasphemous works" appears awfully draconian. Is this in line with other law in Eire?

So if you want to live with this law, be nice and don't be a dick. Say "I do not believe in God" not "God is an imaginary spirit in the sky and anybody who believes in god is an idiot" and you'll be OK.

[stormsdotter.livejournal.com]

Well, I guess I won't be visiting my distant cousins any time soon, since I left Christianity because all their hate-thy-neighbor prejudices got to me.

Thanks for the heads-up, Tom. I just e-mailed my mother and asked for my cousins' mailing address. I'd LOVE to hear how they feel about all this; they're one of the more prominent Protestant families in Ireland.

[smoooom.livejournal.com]

OK I'm not resisting any longer. Blasphemy has nothing to do with harming god. It has to do with respect. I've gotten used to half the universe using words out of context. Usually the four lettered ones. I think it's sad, but hey. And since nearly all my friends only resort to that kind of language in extremitus it doesn't really bother me. Using gods name in vain is another thing all together. God, and Jesus Christ are important figures in my life. I don't ask others to believe as I do, I don't think that it's to much to ask them to respect the central core of my belief. I try to respect theirs. I realise that for many people saying what ever comes to mind isn't a big deal because they don't beleive or have respect for them. I hope that makes sense. Two more things
1) A law banning blasphemy is stupid, even for Ireland
2) The worst language I hear both ways is in the local Catholic schools. From the students and teachers a like. It's another reason I can't work in the Catholic System any more. I had expected more from that system. More fool me.

[bayushisan.livejournal.com]

I have a number of my own issues with the Catholic Church and some of their dogmas. I agree that the law is a tad on the strange side.

Personally I am rather against blasphemy, though that really shouldn't surprise anyone since I'm a Christian. I try to extend respect, though I admit it's not always easy and I ask that other extend that same respect; but I don't need a law to enforce it.

Unfortunately

[capplor.livejournal.com]

that is one of those things easy to be "creative" with interpretation. Just saying "First ham was bad(Judaism), then it was good (Christianity) then it was bad (Islam), then it was good (Baha'i) -- why can't your god make up his mind already?" Or, staying entirely within my own sect of Christianity "First playing cards & dancing were bad, then they were good. Maybe the elders do NOT speak for God after all." Or "Icons were good, then they were bad, and what the heck is wrong with art, anyway"

Is THAT kind of speech blasphemy? Who decides?

[bayushisan.livejournal.com]

On that note I tend to find it rather amusing when certain groups talk about the whole "white, Christian" thing and I want to remind them that Jesus was Jewish ato see if their heads explode. ;)

[allandaros.livejournal.com]

While I agree 100% that blasphemy laws are horrendous (and, IMO, one of the few things to properly be called blasphemous!), you might not want to use Prison Planet as a backup website. These guys seem kiiiinda crazy themselves.

[kkatowll.livejournal.com]

Look, as an atheist I can tell you -- I can be as respectful as I want, but if I say anything that in ANY way indicates I believe no gods exist, believers gasp and say, "Blasphemy!"
Blasphemy is, by definition, denying an article of someone's faith. So saying Mohammed is not a prophet is blasphemy. Saying you don't believe in Zeus is blasphemy (though perhaps not enforceable under this law, which seems to imply that there must first be a large group of adherents so that they can be offended).
Saying you believe in Jesus your lord and savior is blasphemy too. (It's blasphemy to many Jews who specifically believe he was NOT the messiah.)
In fact I'd be hard-pressed to come up with any line in any typical religious service that is not blasphemy to someone else.
This law is absurd and I would guess it was designed to specifically stop some certain sort of blasphemy from occurring. Anybody know which bit?

[crysthewolf.livejournal.com]

I think the problem that I have is that I think respect for another HAS to come with the freedom to speak as one sees fit. If your faith demands that you respect the name of God and that certain ways of speaking it DISrespect it, then I can respect that you won't say certain things. But I don't believe in your God. I can respect YOU, but I cannot respect your God.

I'm Pagan. I wouldn't expect a Christian not to toss out a "May Thor smite you!" or some such thing just being silly. I don't take offense at it. Why? Because they don't live by my rules and I don't expect them to.

[lariss.livejournal.com]

There's a guy living on the side of some Volcano out West in the USA. Buys nothing, owns nothing but what he makes with his bare hands...a true survivalist.

And if I thought I'd last 12 months, I'd go do the same thing...'cept I have a kid, and that'd be none too safe.

[crysthewolf.livejournal.com]

Bi.zarre.

[lariss.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry, but I take serious exception to this. Why can't I say "God is a figment of the imagination" if you can say, "God is real"?

I'm afraid your argument here smacks very much of the "Well, if you aren't doing anything wrong, you shouldn't be worried about police surveillance" argument.

[shockwave77598.livejournal.com]

I personally will give props to the first person who uses this law to prosecute anyone who says anything negative about the Flying Spaghetti Monster. Seems to me that it's a blank check for folks to attack everyone not of their tribe. Can't say Jesus is the messiah - Jews say he isn't. Can't say Jesus isn't the messiah - Christians say he is. So it's the simplest law on the books now... nobody gets to offend anybody anymore, so everyone just hush up.

Two things people CAN'T do, is stop offending each other and hush up.

*sits down with a jumbo box of popcorn and watches the hillarity* Oh, this will be the blockbuster movie of the summer. I can't wait to see the scene where the Satanists blast the Catholics for talking smack about their boy! :)

[lariss.livejournal.com]

You have clarity and eloquence. Thanks for saying the thing I was having trouble formulating nicely.

[saganth.livejournal.com]

Well, there goes my dream of going back to see Ireland again someday. Goddamned idiotic prejudiced fucktards. And yes I do think it's going to be Christian-centric despite the law's language, because the country is mostly Christian, so more Christians are going to be offended than any other group.

Welcome to the fucking stone age. My heart weeps for Eire.

[baphnedia.livejournal.com]

It won't cause any problems at all! :P

[huskiebear.livejournal.com]

They could have just left religion out of it like they did in my town and make it illegal to be annoying...

[technoshaman.livejournal.com]

hear, here.

[technoshaman.livejournal.com]

I have just one thing to say about that:

Jesus jumped-up Christ in a sidecar.

[ladystarblade.livejournal.com]

Well, seeing as how this 'Irish-blooded-daughter-of-a-Druid-raised-Protestant-now-leans-Pagan-but-is-mostly-agnostic' is going to Ireland in less than 4 weeks, this should be interesting, indeed.

Aaaaand, just on a first glance, I get the impression that it's mostly modifying laws already on the books...it talks about reducing the fine for blasphemy...hmm. Needs to backtrack and see what the laws used to say.

And I don't find it surprising at all that Ireland's laws jink around with religion so much...haven't they always been one of the more religion-centric nations? People don't run around calling themselves 'Irish Catholic' for nothing...

[selenesue.livejournal.com]

Sorry if you see it that way. I do not live in Ireland and have no particular ability to vote the blighters out. But I might visit there some day and want to not get arrested.

In the meantime, keep reading the actual law. It is not quite as simple as the headline states.