Secular campaigners in the Irish Republic defied a strict new blasphemy law which came into force today by publishing a series of anti-religious quotations online and promising to fight the legislation in court.
The new law, which was passed in July, means that blasphemy in Ireland is now a crime punishable with a fine of up to €25,000 (£22,000).
It defines blasphemy as “publishing or uttering matter that is grossly abusive or insulting in relation to matters sacred by any religion, thereby intentionally causing outrage among a substantial number of adherents of that religion, with some defences permitted”.
The justice minister, Dermot Ahern, said that the law was necessary because while immigration had brought a growing diversity of religious faiths, the 1936 constitution extended the protection of belief only to Christians.
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Richard Dawkins: “The God of the Old Testament is arguably the most unpleasant character in all fiction: jealous and proud of it; a petty, unjust, unforgiving control freak; a vindictive, bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser; a misogynistic, homophobic, racist, infanticidal, genocidal, filicidal, pestilential, megalomaniacal, sadomasochistic, capriciously malevolent bully.”Björk: “The Buddhists say we come back as animals and they refer to them as lesser beings. Well, animals aren’t lesser beings, they’re just like us. So I say fuck the Buddhists.”
Frank Zappa: “To hang all this desperate sociology on the idea of The Cloud Guy who has The Big Book, who knows if you’ve been bad or good – and cares about any of it – is the chimpanzee part of the brain working.”
#17 – Darwinists prefer it if you don’t use the word “believe” when referring to evolution. As it is a scientific theory, you either “accept” it, or you don’t, and the overwhelming evidence so far points to the theory as being correct. Belief doesn’t come into it.
So far Gravity is only a theory as well, and I’d like to see the creationists stop using it.
#21 So far Gravity is only a theory as well, and I’d like to see the creationists stop using it.
Haven’t you heard?
Evangelical Scientists Refute Gravity With New ‘Intelligent Falling’ Theory
http://theonion.com/content/node/39512
# 17 Arkyn1
“Atheism and Darwinism are not religions.”
I suppose that is true unless you understand that there is no connection between the belief in Atheism/Darwinism and reality in which case these would be considered superstitions – a lesser form of religion.
And if there ever was anything with precise rigid structure, or fundamentalist opinion or single interpretation – that would be science. Especially as recognized in rituals such as the Nobel Prizes.
(Charles had close to everything to say, by the way, about human evolution, as anyone who has read his book “The Descent of Man” can attest).
RBG
#23, RBG,
Superstition is based upon supposed, fictional, and irrational beliefs. Science is based upon facts and proof. Religion is a subset of superstition, not the other way around.
No, Darwin was not perfect. He did have some flaws. The bulk of his work would still stand today as still more provable than any religious belief.
How can there be “belief in Atheism”? That bit of illogic is right up there with “you choose not to believe”.
# 24 Mr. Fusion
I would say the first fellow to read chicken bones for good luck was superstitious. Eight million costumed believers later with churches around the world dedicated to Chicken Bone reading might be considered a religion.
Now just look up Piltdown Man, Lysenkoism, String Theory, Richard Dawkin’s multiple universes, E8 Physics, and on for science based upon fiction & faith. Pardon them if there are people out there who want to question “science.”
RBG
A short film detailing the history and context of the Irish Blasphemy Legislation.