http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/europe/01/02/ireland.blasphemy.law/
Irish atheists use Bjork, Mark Twain to challenge blasphemy law
Too bad you can't use reason to overturn this law.
The country of Ireland enacted blasphemy laws that makes it a crime to say anything that offends a large number of members of any religion. The current penalty is a substantial fine ($35,800). Muslim extremists believe that anyone who insults their religion should be punished by death, by any Muslim in the vicinity. So while the Irish Catholics seem to be trying to appease the Muslim extremists, the haven't gone far enough.
In any case, I wonder if the Irish Catholics have put a definition of what a religion is into their law?
How about a member of a Native American Church that takes Peyote as part of their religious ritual? The United States has passed laws allowing Native Americans to practice their religion.
If the police in Ireland arrest a Native American Church member who is taking Peyote, are they persecuting another religion, which is probably protected under their laws? Or are the police committing blasphemy, because anyone who talks or acts to prevent their use of their sacraments is something which all members of their religion would find offensive?
Saturday, January 2, 2010
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