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What actually constitutes blasphemy?

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absent Sun 20-Jan-13 15:14:40

Talking within a Christian context, is blasphemy the same as sacrilege? Does it apply only to God (tripartite or otherwise) or would it be blasphemous, say, to scrawl obscenities but without any reference to God over an altar? Does it apply to other biblical figures such as the Virgin Mary or Saint Paul. Presumably it would be blasphemous to spit out the communion wafer and stamp on it in a Catholic church, but would it be so in an Anglican church? Do we still gave a blasphemy law in their country? Why isn't it blasphemous for the pope to downgrade a saint? Surely he can't claim infallibility when he is undoing something done by a previous (infallible) pope?

I have never really thought about this before and have no idea why it has come into my head today, but I should really like to know.

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Greatnan Wed 24-Apr-13 08:30:12

Once again, we are completely in agreement, Micelf. Whilst not sharing their beliefs, I would, figuratively, defend to the death anybody's right to worship in any way they choose, always with the proviso that their right does not infringe somebody else's rights (including women and children).

The need for something to believe in seems to have survived under Communist rule - I think many Catholic churches in England are now attended primarily by Poles and they have had to recruit Polish priests.

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harvatt Fri 26-Apr-13 16:00:55

Blasphemy :Any contemptuous or profane act or utterance .

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Greatnan Fri 26-Apr-13 16:32:41

I suppose it comes down to definition. Who decides if something is profane? As I don't believe in any god, I don't see how I can show contempt.

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Elegran Fri 26-Apr-13 16:47:43

At one time it was common not to pile any other books on top of a bible - that was insulting to it.

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Ana Fri 26-Apr-13 16:48:27

www.666man.net/Blasphemy_Bible_Definitions_of.html

I've never considered the question of what actually constitues blasphemy before either, but I thought this article was quite interesting.

It seems to be saying that the Bible definition of blasphemy is rather more specific than the usual dictionary one and that there are three main criteria - to claim to be God, to claim to have the powers of God and to stubbornly refuse to repent of one's sins.

Taking the Lord's name in vain etc. or defiling a church would therefore presumably not be considered blasphemous.

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Greatnan Fri 26-Apr-13 16:57:58

Oh, I am in the clear then!

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Ana Fri 26-Apr-13 17:13:11

As are most of us, I'd imagine...grin

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