Blasphemy Laws

[User37482]

Tahir Ali (Labour) got up in parliament and asked Starmer

'to prohibit the desecration of all religious texts and the prophets of the Abrahamic religions'.

Just the Abrahamic religions of course no mention of the Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, Jains, Taoism etc etc

AIBU to think most people absolutely do not want want blasphemy laws in the UK and would like to retain the right to say what they would like about any religion.

I don’t even know what a desecration of a prophet is? i’m going to assume it’s taking the piss out of one.

So how, in your opinion, do they "have a hold over people" - black magic, blackmail, or something else??🤔

I'd guess it's a combination of emotional and psychological; they are the gatekeepers to the eternal, and that's pretty powerful.

"they are the gatekeepers to the eternal, and that's pretty powerful."

No they aren't.

St Peter is the gatekeeper of the church on earth and Our Lord is the gatekeeper of heaven.

And fear. Ruling by fear and brainwashing

Sure, whatever works for you!

OK, whatever you say 🙄

The cheek of him. And of course, it would be Labour

Seriously? This thread is ages old. Nothing has been announced. Lose the paranoia.

You're right, religion is a form of control and extortion.

Yeah but people are STILL posting on it, so as it's a free country, I thought I would too. I know it hasn't been announced. I'm calling the bloke a cheeky twat.

So is government then.

The only difference is that one is to your taste and the other isn't.

"Of course it would be Labour"

Odd thing to say given it was the last Labour government who abolished blasphemy laws in England and Wales (iirc, while the majority of Conservatives supported the repeal, most of those who voted against abolition were Tories).

Well, no, in a democracy we have some say over who governs us.

As does any individual in any religious group. If you don't like the leadership you can just not do what they say, or leave. Much easier than leaving a country.

Depends on your religious community, doesn't it? Some communities don't like people to leave and become violent. In some places the local religious authority is also the only way to seek any support outside of your family. In some communities, disobeying the religious authority will make you an outcast.

You could say the same of some families. Are you going to say all families are a form of control and extortion too?

Same with any form of human community.

Cool story.

That's the best you can do?

I do not want any goddamn blasphemy laws here - or anywhere for that matter. The sooner we grow up and grow out of religion, the better.

I don't owe you a debate.

What?! Surely that's a typo and you meant 'unnecessary'? I'd say it's not only unnecessary to have blasphemy laws, but also ridiculous and dangerous.

How is any religious text not fiction? Prove to me that someone came back from the dead, parted the sea or that there was a worldwide flood. It's hardly fact!

Meaning "yes that's the very best I can do" I suspect.

But I'm happy to leave this here.

Well it's not within the dictionary definition....

But I can't see what's at all offensive about referring to religious texts as fiction. It's rhetoric to make a point. I can't think of any belief or ethic, whether religious or not, that should be above mockery. Just about anything is capable of being taken too seriously.

No, meaning, "I don't owe you a debate and I have no interest in your argument."

If you were happy to leave it there you should have.

I'm not going to smile either.