Should A Mock Crucifixion Be Punishable As Blasphemy In a Court Of Law?

[Shadow Wolf]

I did a mock crucifixion once at a wrestling event. I really ****** off the crowd, and I was told I would not be allowed to wrestle for that promotion again. I think that was abit harsh, since it was entertainment, and my gimmick (who is very anti-christian) is supposed to get people hating him, so I was just doing my job, and I got punished.

 

[doppelganger]

Of course, the beautiful irony of all of this is that, in the story, Jesus was crucified in the first place because of charges of "blasphemy."

 

[Booko]

Does this surprise you coming from a supposedly liberal country where prostitution is legal but the expression of blasphemy is not?

I guess this is another example of why Chomsky made a comment about European countries not entirely understanding the ramifications of freedom of speech.

The idea of having blasphemy laws on the secular law books...I just don't get it.

As for Madonna, let her be convicted in the court of public opinion of reaching the nadir of class acts.

 

[Booko]

By all means let's have mock crucifictions to remind people what Jesus went through, but let's make it authentic with no detail spared -

Oh...I thought for a moment you were going to suggest a trip to the Phillipines next Good Friday.

 

[Booko]

There are no laws against blasphemy in the U.S. as far as I know. Don't most countries recognize the difference between church and state these days?

Certainly not in France, given they banned wearing the hijab in schools. That makes many Muslim girls have to choose between their religion and an education. What nonsense.

As for the OP, I agree wholeheartely with Buttercup -- the idea of having blasphemy laws is antiquated, not to mention problematic, and given the views on drugs and prostitution, seems quite hypocritical as well.

 

[Druidus]

Blasphemy laws are like looking glasses into forgotten eras. They should be done away with. They are useless.

 

[Purple Thyme]

history should not be forgotten as it is a great reminder of what not to do like punishing someone for blasphemy laws.

 

[MaddLlama]

Personally I don't see why blasphemy should be an offense punishable by law unless the government is controlled by the church.

 

[Druidus]

history should not be forgotten as it is a great reminder of what not to do like punishing someone for blasphemy laws.

Firrinn. Truth (including historical truth) should never be forgotten. But that doesn't mean we should like what our ancestors did.

 

[Revasser]

The idea of having blasphemy laws on the secular law books...I just don't get it.

The thing is, many governments in Europe simply are not secular in the way people familiar with American politics would understand it. Christianity is still very much woven into the government and many of the countries even still have a state church.

The fact that the people are substantially less religious, mostly in Western Europe, doesn't change that, at least not right away. There are still a lot of bits and pieces of a more religious era hanging around in their laws and governmental practices. It's the same down here in Australia.

It seems to be the difference between letting state Christianity wither away and drop off on it's own and hacking it out with a knife as was done in the USA. Both approaches bring their problems. One of the problems of the former is that in many places there are still laws like this on the books waiting to be abused, regardless of how rarely enforced they have been.

That said, I do find the idea of laws against "blasphemy" to be archaic and ridiculous and I think it's sad this was taken seriously to get to a minister. Hopefully, if it gets to court, it will be laughed out immediately.

 

[zombieharlot]

I've never understood the saying, "Let the sinners sin," because it seems to me that a lot of religious people don't let them. If you try to forcibly take sin away from sinners, it only agravates them and pushes them away.

And why is it that the door can't swing the other way? Could there be a court hearing if followers of Satan get offended by Christian groups who sing and shout about stomping and rebuking him?

 

[Simon Gnosis]

Madonna's mock crucification?

Maybe it does offend some christians..why?

Is it that a few are so immature and arrogant that they think that their beliefs are unquestionably true and so they feel it is their God given right to seek to thrust their petty world view (ie in this case declaring what Madonna's doing is blasphemy) upon the world, whether the rest of us give a damn or not?

I think so.

I consider the fact that millions of children across the world are allowed to die every year through starvation disease and war extremely blasphemous.

I find the veneration of Jesus as God incarnate highly blasphemous but you don't hear me calling for the ban of Jesus's image being shown in public...yet.

These unenlightened people have simply picked on Madonna to ego boost themselves, why don't they do something useful instead?
Anyone who noticed will forget Madonna's mock crucifiction in a couple of weeks anyway, its just a plastic crusade on the part of the christian youth organisation in question.

Pathetic.

Carry on Madonna you rock babe! :clap

 

[Simon Gnosis]

I've never understood the saying, "Let the sinners sin," because it seems to me that a lot of religious people don't let them. If you try to forcibly take sin away from sinners, it only agravates them and pushes them away.

And why is it that the door can't swing the other way? Could there be a court hearing if followers of Satan get offended by Christian groups who sing and shout about stomping and rebuking him?

Ah just read this post.

Your second paragraph....EXACTLY!

 

[michel]

Madonna's mock crucification?
What about Michael Palin's The life of Ryan ? - I can't say I 'approve of it', but it's the old saying "No one makes you watch it". I won't, out of choice, but taking a case to court IMO is absurd (especially in a country who seem to believe - and act like - the most liberal thinking people).

 

[Buttercup]

The thing is, many governments in Europe simply are not secular in the way people familiar with American politics would understand it. Christianity is still very much woven into the government and many of the countries even still have a state church.

The fact that the people are substantially less religious, mostly in Western Europe, doesn't change that, at least not right away. There are still a lot of bits and pieces of a more religious era hanging around in their laws and governmental practices. It's the same down here in Australia.

Very good points Vass and I think your post about sums up why it still happens.

 

[YmirGF]

Madonna's mock crucification?
What about Michael Palin's The life of Ryan ? - I can't say I 'approve of it', but it's the old saying "No one makes you watch it". I won't, out of choice, but taking a case to court IMO is absurd (especially in a country who seem to believe - and act like - the most liberal thinking people).

The movie was, "The Life of Brian" and was funded largely by former Beatle and Monty Python devotee, George Harrison.

Michel, this movie is not what you might think. The movie is about a case of mistaken identity and it is absolutely hilarious. This poor guy is running around minding his business when people begin to mistaken him for the Messiah. He tries desperately to convince them that he is not, but they just won't listen.

Definitely a classic and HIGHLY recommended.


As for the OP... wait till next year, I have it on good authority that Madonna is going to spoof the immaculate conception. That ought to be a REAL crowd pleaser.

 

[bender118]

Did they object to the passion of the christ as well?

 

[Booko]

Madonna's mock crucification?
What about Michael Palin's The life of Ryan ? - I can't say I 'approve of it', but it's the old saying "No one makes you watch it". I won't, out of choice, but taking a case to court IMO is absurd (especially in a country who seem to believe - and act like - the most liberal thinking people).

Did you mean Monty Python's "Life of Brian"?

If so, I'd argue that it lampoons some of the sillier things in religion, like the origins of religious divisions, blind faith, human misunderstandings of religious teachings (Blessed are the cheesemakers?) and the silliness of "religious" terrorist groups, but it really has nothing to say about Christianity on its own, and Christ doesn't appear anywhere.

 

[MaddLlama]

As for the OP... wait till next year, I have it on good authority that Madonna is going to spoof the immaculate conception. That ought to be a REAL crowd pleaser.

Hah! Speak for yourself!

 

[Simon Gnosis]

Did you mean Monty Python's "Life of Brian"?

If so, I'd argue that it lampoons some of the sillier things in religion, like the origins of religious divisions, blind faith, human misunderstandings of religious teachings (Blessed are the cheesemakers?) and the silliness of "religious" terrorist groups, but it really has nothing to say about Christianity on its own, and Christ doesn't appear anywhere.

Life of Brian hehe

"He is not the son of God, he is a very naughty boy!"

:sarcastic