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Original poster

To want to burn one of each Religious text today?

256 replies

JustMakingAPoint · 09/05/2025 07:54

Not because I hate or dislike them.

Not because I think burning books is good (I do not)

But because I should be able too. Because we have no Blasphemy laws and mean as it is, it’s not illegal and shouldn’t be.

And I want to do it to all of them to make the point it’s not about Islam, though it is provoked by today’s news.

This country is secular, blasphemy laws do not exist. And they shouldn’t.

if it takes every person burning a single religious book of their choosing to make the point - then I’m up for that.

OP posts:
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KT1113 · 09/05/2025 13:29

Panicmode1 · 09/05/2025 09:15

What I would like to know is if the man burning the text has now been charged with insulting a religion (or whatever back door blasphemy law they are using), has the man with the knife who tried to stab him for burning the book, been charged with anything?

I think that it is a very slippery slope to charge someone with offending a religion...allowing a backdoor blasphemy law to take hold leads to a dangerous place IMO. I don't believe that burning religious texts (or any books/flags etc) is acceptable and he was being deliberately offensive or provocative, but I also believe in free speech and the right to question a religion/ideology etc. (I also don't think that if someone burnt a Bible, that there would be the same level of police interest).

Yes, he has - causing actual bodily harm and possession of an offensive weapon

KT1113 · 09/05/2025 13:27

DrPrunesqualer · 09/05/2025 13:06

I thought the news story was about it being burned outside the Turkish Embassy.
It was actually a political act

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Ah ok, my mistake.

SorcererGaheris · 09/05/2025 13:26

inamarina · 09/05/2025 13:03

I get your point, but imagine the response OP would get if she specifically targeted any particular religion.
I agree with you that there are several religions that are not trying to limit free expression and criticism through the law, I think that’s how it should be.

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@inamarina

"I get your point, but imagine the response OP would get if she specifically targeted any particular religion."

Yes, there is that.

I think my issue is - as a member of a minority religion that gets unjustly viewed as having the dogmatic/bigoted elements that some other expressions of religion have - is that blanket statements like the OP's kind of help add to the impression that all religions are the same/have equally pernicious elements, and that's just not true.

Mjaxten16 · 09/05/2025 13:23

it will be that reform Rupert Lowe latest X tweet. Usual shit stirring for this dippy followers to be angry at whatever he is angry about at the time

SorcererGaheris · 09/05/2025 13:23

CantStopMoving · 09/05/2025 12:59

because if someone personally owns a copy they surely are allowed to burn a personal possession that they own. That’s the whole debate - should another person/group be able to criminalise you for destroying someone that you own regardless of what it is?

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@CantStopMoving

If they own copies, then of course they should legally be allowed to burn them. But the OP has stated that their desire to do this is in a protest against blasphemy laws. Considering Pagan religions (as well as a number of others) are not trying to limit freedom of expression through blasphemy laws, there's no MORAL justification to burn texts associated with those particular religions, even if it is (rightly) legal to do so.

Bringing other religions that AREN'T causing a problem into this issue is not only pointless, but also prejudiced, IMO.

PlutoCat · 09/05/2025 13:20

Switcher · 09/05/2025 12:35

This was a few years ago. It was on the news. Presumably it'll be on YouTube somewhere but I think you're trying to suggest it's made up. It isn't.

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No I am not suggesting that. I didn't recall seeing the apology broadcast on TV. Hence my question.

Someone has already kindly provided the link to the apology which was filmed. It wasn't broadcast on any mainstream television channels though , as @Yellowhammer09 has acknowledged, which was my question.

ToWhitToWhoo · 09/05/2025 13:15

I don't believe in burning any books. Not even 'Mein Kampf'. Where might it end?

And by the way blasphemy laws still exist in one part of the UK: Northern Ireland. And were only abolished in Scotland in 2024. Even in England and Wales, they were only abolished in 2008. Against the strong opposition of the DUP and some Tories, including Edward Leigh who is now Father of the House.

inamarina · 09/05/2025 13:10

nomas · 09/05/2025 12:54

There are already blasphemy laws to protect Christianity. Don’t see you protesting about that.

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There are already blasphemy laws to protect Christianity.

In the UK? No, there aren’t.

DrPrunesqualer · 09/05/2025 13:06

KT1113 · 09/05/2025 13:03

Yes and she can do that, there's no law against it. Burning it outside a mosque, like the man in the news story being referred to, is inflammatory (literally and figuratively!) and should absolutely have consequences.

The abortion clinic/praying is the best comaparison I've seen on here!

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I thought the news story was about it being burned outside the Turkish Embassy.
It was actually a political act

CantStopMoving · 09/05/2025 13:05

KT1113 · 09/05/2025 13:03

Yes and she can do that, there's no law against it. Burning it outside a mosque, like the man in the news story being referred to, is inflammatory (literally and figuratively!) and should absolutely have consequences.

The abortion clinic/praying is the best comaparison I've seen on here!

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But again, should it be criminalised? Once you start criminalising things like this you move towards authoritarianism.

I find is amazing how many people who would describe themselves as liberals, advocate for more laws when that is the polar opposite of of liberalism. If you are liberal you should be advocating for as few laws as possible

DrPrunesqualer · 09/05/2025 13:04

nomas · 09/05/2025 12:54

There are already blasphemy laws to protect Christianity. Don’t see you protesting about that.

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There are no Blasphemy laws

Why do people keep saying this on here!

inamarina · 09/05/2025 13:03

SorcererGaheris · 09/05/2025 12:56

@inamarina

But the OP specified burning a copy of every religious text as a protest against blasphemy laws. Considering numerous religions, like Hinduism, Buddhism and the numerous Pagan religions, are NOT trying to limit free expression through the law, then what is the justification for burning texts associated with those religions?

Edited
Show quote history

I get your point, but imagine the response OP would get if she specifically targeted any particular religion.
I agree with you that there are several religions that are not trying to limit free expression and criticism through the law, I think that’s how it should be.

KT1113 · 09/05/2025 13:03

CantStopMoving · 09/05/2025 12:59

because if someone personally owns a copy they surely are allowed to burn a personal possession that they own. That’s the whole debate - should another person/group be able to criminalise you for destroying someone that you own regardless of what it is?

Show quote history

Yes and she can do that, there's no law against it. Burning it outside a mosque, like the man in the news story being referred to, is inflammatory (literally and figuratively!) and should absolutely have consequences.

The abortion clinic/praying is the best comaparison I've seen on here!

CantStopMoving · 09/05/2025 13:01

KT1113 · 09/05/2025 12:58

Burning a religious book in your own back garden? Crack on if the mood so takes you.

Standing outside a place of worship burning their book of choice? Clearly offensive and inciting religious hatred.

That it may be - But is it or should it be a criminal offence? Do we want our country to move towards being more authoritarian rather than stay based on the libertarian principles we have lived with for hundreds of years.

DrPrunesqualer · 09/05/2025 13:00

CantStopMoving · 09/05/2025 12:44

But all info is on the internet now. If we had no printed books at all anymore then people would still have access to the information.

burning books used to be a problem as once gone the information would be gone with them . That is no longer the case so it’s moot whether they exist in printed copy or not.

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True of course
Learning won’t be extinguished if all books are burnt

But why would people bother them, if the act of burning does not extinguish the beliefs and teachings.

as an owner of many first editions I’d personally find it a pathetic destruction of historical text

CantStopMoving · 09/05/2025 12:59

SorcererGaheris · 09/05/2025 12:56

@inamarina

But the OP specified burning a copy of every religious text as a protest against blasphemy laws. Considering numerous religions, like Hinduism, Buddhism and the numerous Pagan religions, are NOT trying to limit free expression through the law, then what is the justification for burning texts associated with those religions?

Edited
Show quote history

because if someone personally owns a copy they surely are allowed to burn a personal possession that they own. That’s the whole debate - should another person/group be able to criminalise you for destroying someone that you own regardless of what it is?

PinkyFlamingo · 09/05/2025 12:58

I hate when people don't put what they are talking about, very attention seeking.

KT1113 · 09/05/2025 12:58

Burning a religious book in your own back garden? Crack on if the mood so takes you.

Standing outside a place of worship burning their book of choice? Clearly offensive and inciting religious hatred.

GeneralPeter · 09/05/2025 12:56

nomas · 09/05/2025 12:54

There are already blasphemy laws to protect Christianity. Don’t see you protesting about that.

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Really? What do you know about me?

And what, from my post, makes you think I support blasphemy laws for any religion?

SorcererGaheris · 09/05/2025 12:56

inamarina · 09/05/2025 12:51

I agree and I think several posters on this thread are (willfully?) missing the point.
Personally, I wouldn’t want to burn any books, nobody should be prosecuted for choosing to do that though.

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@inamarina

But the OP specified burning a copy of every religious text as a protest against blasphemy laws. Considering numerous religions, like Hinduism, Buddhism and the numerous Pagan religions, are NOT trying to limit free expression through the law, then what is the justification for burning texts associated with those religions?

DrPrunesqualer · 09/05/2025 12:56

ExtraOnions · 09/05/2025 08:44

You can’t even say you are English now without getting arrested…

…something about not being able to wear crosses at work …

..then something about St George

…and I’ll finish off with “supposed to be a Christian County”

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It is perfectly lawful to wear a Crucifix / Cross at work

CantStopMoving · 09/05/2025 12:55

nomas · 09/05/2025 12:54

There are already blasphemy laws to protect Christianity. Don’t see you protesting about that.

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no there isn’t as explained in the quote you responded to

nomas · 09/05/2025 12:54

GeneralPeter · 09/05/2025 12:22

It really isn’t Islamophobia to not want de facto blasphemy laws. For any religion.

There’s a respectable intellectual tradition opposing blasphemy laws that far predates modern arguments over Islam. It was a battle last fought in the 1970s when Mary Whitehouse won a private prosecution against Gay News because of their publication of a poem offensive to many Christians.

That led eventually to the removal of the offence of blasphemous libel everywhere except Northern Ireland.

Wanting to keep blasphemy laws away is not driven by some irrational fear of Muslims. It’s an (imo) very important liberal principle that will manifest in different contexts at different times, but is foundational to any hope we may have of having a secular, successful, multicultural society.

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There are already blasphemy laws to protect Christianity. Don’t see you protesting about that.

AnnaFrith · 09/05/2025 12:53

MyrtlethePurpleTurtle · 09/05/2025 12:10

Stealth? No, out in the open Islamophobia. Tedious, depressing but sadly predictable

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If your definition of 'Islamophobia' is 'concerned about calls for laws to make blasphemy against Islam a criminal offence', I am proud to be an Islamaphobe.

inamarina · 09/05/2025 12:51

HermioneWeasley · 09/05/2025 12:14

I agree with the sentiment of the OP. I don’t actually want to burn any books, but it is chilling that someone is being prosecuted because what he did with his own property offended someone else’s. It is the imposition of blasphemy laws and we should all be concerned about that

I agree and I think several posters on this thread are (willfully?) missing the point.
Personally, I wouldn’t want to burn any books, nobody should be prosecuted for choosing to do that though.