Blasphemy Law in Ireland

[Sathor]

Anyone heard about it? Appearently, the Irish parliament made a law against blasphemy, punishable with up to 25.000 Euros. They claim the constitution demands it. Well, in a good constitution, the freedom of religion should be included, giving you negative-freedom, too. To not believe and have your free opinion. I hope the Irish people will not except this step.

How weak must a god be he needs laws made by man to protect himself?

Discuss.

English article:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree ... phemy-laws
(Didn't read it, but I read a German one and guess most of you wouldn't understand that)

[MayheM]

Well I don't think it is the governments right to tell people what they can and cannot say. I really don't know what to say...

however, a bit off topic but sorts the same. I always find it odd to hear the following.
1. "Jesus Christ!!!" from a jewish person. I worked in a Jewish school and it was one of those things that made me scratch my head. I heard it all the time.
2. People who do not believe in God saying "God Damn It!!!" That is just silly.

Anyway, blasphemy was for a long time punishable by death. It is one of those things that you don't really need to say but people do all the time. I actually stopped for the most part. Not because I though God was going to strike me down or anything I was just around kids at the school and had to filter my language a bit. I for one have an opinion on curse words and stuff like that. I have heard people who are really religious say "Oh Poop" or "Gosh Darn It". Well in my opinion they mean the exact same things as "Oh Shit" and "God Damn It". In spirit they are the exact same, the only difference is the words used. That makes no sense. Who was the guy who said Shit was a bad word and subsequently inappropriate to use in public. However poop can be tossed around all day long (pun intended). I really see no harm in the words. They are just words after all. I could go one but I have to get back to work... Gosh Darn it!!!

[BlekksPoncho]

Wow...I have recently been reading The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins and have just got to the point about the blasphemy laws, he quotes cases from Pakistan and Afghanistan where the penalty for blasphemy is death...yeah you read right...death. And this is under the "liberal" Afghanistani government that the Americans helped into power, not the taliban, it's just crazy.

[Chrille]

Wow...I have recently been reading The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins and have just got to the point about the blasphemy laws, he quotes cases from Pakistan and Afghanistan where the penalty for blasphemy is death...yeah you read right...death. And this is under the "liberal" Afghanistani government that the Americans helped into power, not the taliban, it's just crazy.

It was also punishable by death when the Talibans ruled.

[MayheM]

That is what happens when religion rules a country. No good can come of this. It is a law to make money, plain and simple. Like a Parking ticket, No one really gets hurt when you park somewhere for three hours instead of two but $60 or $70 later, it hurts you... I can see a Saturday Night Live skit of some Irish folk sitting around in their house watching a football match and the opponent scores and some one yells "GOD DAMN IT!!!" Then in barge the police...

it will be interesting to hear how much this gets unforced.

[Dr. Delta]

The worst part They claim the constitution demands it.

Religion is an abstract thing that drives man info madness.

But religion != rational

[Spike]

The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself.
Friedrich Nietzsche

This one's better

In truth, there was only one Christian, and he died on the cross.
Friedrich Nietzsche

[BlekksPoncho]

Wow...I have recently been reading The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins and have just got to the point about the blasphemy laws, he quotes cases from Pakistan and Afghanistan where the penalty for blasphemy is death...yeah you read right...death. And this is under the "liberal" Afghanistani government that the Americans helped into power, not the taliban, it's just crazy.

It was also punishable by death when the Talibans ruled.

Yeah I didn't say it wasn't illegal then but you'd think it may have changed by now...I can't believe Ireland can do this, they aren't some backward country still in the middle ages where the church ruled the state, this is crazy, it's hard to believe.

[zombie@computer]

this is ireland were talking about. They worship whiskey and leprechauns.

whiskey be damned!

[moconnor]

Being Irish myself, This is the second place that I have seen this brought up, the first being the actual first time I heard about it. I have heard nothing about it outside the internet,(don't watch tv alot either,so,meh). I don't think the law will be brought in and if it is, absolutely nobody will give a fucking shit. And I resent that leprechaun joke Americans believe in them, not Irish people lol. yes to the whiskey as well.

[1447]

Well, then I guess it's time to add Ireland to the ever-growing list of countries that should be wiped out by swine flu. No offense, moconnor, I'm just a misanthrope.

[windlab]

@Sathor
Do you seriously think that the law was created with protecting a god / religion in mind?

@MayheM
I have Muslim friends who frequently swear the same, weird.

@Spike
The disciples of Christ were first called Christians at Antioch; is Nietzsche claiming that Christ only had one follower and that was Himself?

The Guardian article linked to states that nobody wanted this law:

...no one can think of a single thundering priest, austere vicar, irate rabbi or miffed mullah ever calling for tougher penalties for blasphemy.

So I'd say this has precious little to do with religion / faith, and everything to do with some government busybody's agenda-shoving.

Please don't miss the point and think that this is from a religious camp - this law is bad news for everybody.

[nub]

...however, a bit off topic but sorts the same. I always find it odd to hear the following.
1. "Jesus Christ!!!" from a jewish person. I worked in a Jewish school and it was one of those things that made me scratch my head. I heard it all the time.
2. People who do not believe in God saying "God Damn It!!!" That is just silly.

Those are simply expressions these days. They don't usually have literal meanings when used. Saying "God dammit" is commonly used as an expression of anger or frustration and nothing more. Sometimes I hear my friends say it when they see something crazy happen; like back in the day when we would do all sorts of outdoor shit and one of us did something crazy, one (or more) of us would say "God DAMN!" or "Jesus Christ!"

Some people could use "God dammit" literally, and it wouldn't make sense if that person was atheist or some other religion that doesn't believe in "God". But I have yet to here anyone use it literally.

I guess it doesn't matter, really.


Anyway, I find this law to be rather far-fetched. Was it really passed? That fine is ridiculous; assuming by 25.000 you mean twenty five thousand (I'm told that in Europe you guys use periods instead of commas for numbers). 25 euros wouldn't make it as bad, but 25k is outright insanity for such an insignificant offense.

[Mr-Jigsaw]

What this tells me is that some of Ireland's lawmakers have way too much time on their hands. But don't worry, I'm sure they'll come around.

Religion is an abstract thing that drives man info madness.

To which, I respond:

Men talk of the extravagances and frenzies that have been produced by mysticism; they are a mere drop in the bucket. In the main, and from the beginning of time, mysticism has kept men sane. The thing that has driven them mad was logic. ...The only thing that has kept the race of men from the mad extremes of the convent and the pirate-galley, the night-club and the lethal chamber, has been mysticism — the belief that logic is misleading, and that things are not what they seem.

[Carbon14]

What this tells me is that some of Ireland's lawmakers have way too much time on their hands. But don't worry, I'm sure they'll come around.

Religion is an abstract thing that drives man info madness.

To which, I respond:

Men talk of the extravagances and frenzies that have been produced by mysticism; they are a mere drop in the bucket. In the main, and from the beginning of time, mysticism has kept men sane. The thing that has driven them mad was logic. ...The only thing that has kept the race of men from the mad extremes of the convent and the pirate-galley, the night-club and the lethal chamber, has been mysticism — the belief that logic is misleading, and that things are not what they seem.

Sorry, but that seems like a terrible quote, if I understand it correctly it is basically saying that its easier to go back to your care bear blanket with it's "god just made it that way" explanations than to actually think about things logically lest they confuse you and drive you "mad". I realize some people get confused and threatened by science and the idea that humans are nothing special and just another animal, but it's seriously time humanity as a whole let go of the teddy bear. Oh, and logic..misleading? only to someone who willfully wants to see patterns where there are none, logic when applied properly is hardly misleading.