Blasphemy? Really? In 2010?
The madness of mythology:
Irish atheists use Bjork, Mark Twain to challenge blasphemy law
(CNN) – An Irish atheist group has published a series of quotations on religion in an attempt to challenge a blasphemy law that went into effect on New Year’s Day.
The 25 “blasphemous” quotations include the words of Jesus, Mohammed, Mark Twain, Salman Rushdie and Bjork.
Atheist Ireland published the list on its Web site Friday. It says it aims to challenge the law, which makes blasphemy a crime punishable by a €25,000-($35,800) fine.
“Despite these quotes being abusive and insulting in relation to matters held sacred by various religions, we unreservedly support the right of these people to have published or uttered them,” the group said on the site. Here’s what you’d get in trouble for:
“A person breaks the law by saying or publishing anything “grossly abusive or insulting in relation to matters held sacred by any religion, thereby causing outrage among a substantial number of the adherents of that religion.”
“We unreservedly support the right of any Irish citizen to make comparable statements about matters held sacred by any religion without fear of being criminalized, and without having to prove to a court that a reasonable person would find any particular value in the statement.”
Lawmakers in staunchly Catholic Ireland passed the law in July, but it came into force January 1.</em>
It really is staggering to me that in this day and age that such a law is not only on the books…but NEWLY drafted at that.
Ok, here goes, just in case I never make to Ireland to mutter it in a pub:
Imagine there’s no Heaven
It’s easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today </em>
