Comments on: Repealing the Blasphemy Law and Getting a Secular Irish Constitution http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2009/09/29/repealing-the-blasphemy-law-and-getting-a-secular-irish-constitution/ by Hemant Mehta Tue, 14 Feb 2012 17:23:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Bill http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2009/09/29/repealing-the-blasphemy-law-and-getting-a-secular-irish-constitution/#comment-370800 Bill Wed, 30 Sep 2009 21:16:21 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=16593#comment-370800 There’s <a href="http://exploringourmatrix.blogspot.com/2009/09/blasphemous-bathroom-break-of-baal.html" rel="nofollow">an interesting post on the <i>Exploring Our Matrix</i> blog</a>. Does that suggest a way to test the silly Irish law? 8-) There’s an interesting post on the Exploring Our Matrix blog. Does that suggest a way to test the silly Irish law? 8-)

]]> By: bobisimo http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2009/09/29/repealing-the-blasphemy-law-and-getting-a-secular-irish-constitution/#comment-370759 bobisimo Wed, 30 Sep 2009 18:59:27 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=16593#comment-370759 Shannon, I agree. I'm an atheist but I love the movie and have seen it more than a couple times. :) But I guess the controversy is that Jesus would never dare to have a moment of weakness. He would never get lost in thought for even a second because blah blah blah yawn. I don't think Christians realize that a truly human Jesus who still sacrifices himself is a more powerful symbol than one who is perfect in all ways at all times. It's basic storytelling, I tell ya! :) Shannon, I agree. I’m an atheist but I love the movie and have seen it more than a couple times. :) But I guess the controversy is that Jesus would never dare to have a moment of weakness. He would never get lost in thought for even a second because blah blah blah yawn. I don’t think Christians realize that a truly human Jesus who still sacrifices himself is a more powerful symbol than one who is perfect in all ways at all times. It’s basic storytelling, I tell ya! :)

]]> By: Shannon http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2009/09/29/repealing-the-blasphemy-law-and-getting-a-secular-irish-constitution/#comment-370660 Shannon Wed, 30 Sep 2009 13:48:31 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=16593#comment-370660 Totally OT, but I really wonder if people who protest The Last Temptation of Christ have actually read or seen it? If you follow through the story to the end, it's actually very Jesus positive. I'm surprised more Christians don't like it. Totally OT, but I really wonder if people who protest The Last Temptation of Christ have actually read or seen it? If you follow through the story to the end, it’s actually very Jesus positive. I’m surprised more Christians don’t like it.

]]> By: My Thoughts On Blasphemy Day « Camels With Hammers http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2009/09/29/repealing-the-blasphemy-law-and-getting-a-secular-irish-constitution/#comment-370644 My Thoughts On Blasphemy Day « Camels With Hammers Wed, 30 Sep 2009 13:17:16 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=16593#comment-370644 [...] Friendly Atheist has important information about efforts to challenge Ireland’s recently enacted blasphemy law [...] [...] Friendly Atheist has important information about efforts to challenge Ireland’s recently enacted blasphemy law [...]

]]> By: Tinna G. Gígja http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2009/09/29/repealing-the-blasphemy-law-and-getting-a-secular-irish-constitution/#comment-370609 Tinna G. Gígja Wed, 30 Sep 2009 11:20:40 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=16593#comment-370609 I do hope they repeal the blasphemy law, but I think it's more important to change the people's attitude. We have a blasphemy law here, and it has been used in the past, but in the last few years the church (the lutheran Church of Iceland) seems to have realized that trying to get people thrown in jail for 'blasphemy' just makes them look silly to the majority of the population. In 1997 an Icelandic comedy troupe put on an Easter Special on national TV. That included sketches like Jesus helping a blind man get Vision ('Vision' being an Icelandic cable channel), the last supper (Judas has to pay because he's the only one with money), et.c. It was fairly tame, but the then bishop of Iceland pressed charges. He also threatened to press charges if the TV station were to show <em>The Last Temptation of Christ</em> as planned. The former case was dropped after the police questioned the comedians, but the TV station buckled under the pressure and dropped 'Temptation'. This silliness was the last time (as far as I know) that any attempt was made to prosecute for blasphemy here - trust me, it's not because people have stopped 'blaspheming'. The last actual conviction was in 1984. I do hope they repeal the blasphemy law, but I think it’s more important to change the people’s attitude. We have a blasphemy law here, and it has been used in the past, but in the last few years the church (the lutheran Church of Iceland) seems to have realized that trying to get people thrown in jail for ‘blasphemy’ just makes them look silly to the majority of the population.

In 1997 an Icelandic comedy troupe put on an Easter Special on national TV. That included sketches like Jesus helping a blind man get Vision (‘Vision’ being an Icelandic cable channel), the last supper (Judas has to pay because he’s the only one with money), et.c. It was fairly tame, but the then bishop of Iceland pressed charges. He also threatened to press charges if the TV station were to show The Last Temptation of Christ as planned. The former case was dropped after the police questioned the comedians, but the TV station buckled under the pressure and dropped ‘Temptation’.

This silliness was the last time (as far as I know) that any attempt was made to prosecute for blasphemy here – trust me, it’s not because people have stopped ‘blaspheming’. The last actual conviction was in 1984.

]]> By: Gordon http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2009/09/29/repealing-the-blasphemy-law-and-getting-a-secular-irish-constitution/#comment-370554 Gordon Wed, 30 Sep 2009 08:10:09 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=16593#comment-370554 There's a referendum on Friday. With the Irish people going to the polls anyway, it would have been so easy to put the constitutional ammendment on the ballot! There’s a referendum on Friday. With the Irish people going to the polls anyway, it would have been so easy to put the constitutional ammendment on the ballot!

]]> By: CAL http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2009/09/29/repealing-the-blasphemy-law-and-getting-a-secular-irish-constitution/#comment-370483 CAL Wed, 30 Sep 2009 02:47:41 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=16593#comment-370483 I wish them the very best to get this ridiculous law repealed, though they surely face an uphill battle in doing so. I wish them the very best to get this ridiculous law repealed, though they surely face an uphill battle in doing so.

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