From the first of this month, a new Irish blasphemy law became operational, and a campaign has begun to have it repealed.
Blasphemy is now a crime punishable by a €25,000 fine.
The new law defines blasphemy as publishing or uttering matter that is grossly abusive or insulting in relation to matters held sacred by any religion, thereby intentionally causing outrage among a substantial number of adherents of that religion.
Blasphemy laws are unjust... in a civilised society, people have a right to to express and to hear ideas about religion even if other people find those ideas to be outrageous.
Thankfully, in March 2008, the common law offences of blasphemy and blasphemous libel was abolished in England and Wales.
However, the struggle for enlightenment continues with the forces of regression and repression ever striking back forcefully.
In this I believe we must support our friends across the Irish Sea.
I would urge everyone to have a look at this site (http://blasphemy.ie/2010/01/01/atheist-ireland-publishes-25-blasphemous-quotes).
Showing posts with label religion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label religion. Show all posts
Sunday, 3 January 2010
Monday, 16 November 2009
Interfaith week
Here we are at the start of "Interfaith Week’, a government-funded project that aims to strengthen good inter-faith relations, to increase awareness of the different and distinct faith communities in the UK, and to celebrate the contribution they make to their neighbourhoods and to wider society.
While on the surface these are all very laudable aims, I am nevertheless deeply concerned that the government is taking the wrong route to community cohesion by focussing almost exclusively on the ‘faith’ element of people’s identities.
My concern is that by supporting ‘faith groups’ over and above other groups in the voluntary and community sector, they are helping to promote the fallacy of distinctive ‘faith communities’ that somehow stand apart from wider civil society.
However, given that one of the aims of the week is to increase understanding between religious and non-religious people, I shall be attending one of the events later on in the week.
I look forward to a more inclusive approach next year!
While on the surface these are all very laudable aims, I am nevertheless deeply concerned that the government is taking the wrong route to community cohesion by focussing almost exclusively on the ‘faith’ element of people’s identities.
My concern is that by supporting ‘faith groups’ over and above other groups in the voluntary and community sector, they are helping to promote the fallacy of distinctive ‘faith communities’ that somehow stand apart from wider civil society.
However, given that one of the aims of the week is to increase understanding between religious and non-religious people, I shall be attending one of the events later on in the week.
I look forward to a more inclusive approach next year!
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