Blasphemy

Blasphemy

Blasphemy

Blasphemy, in common law, crime of speaking or publishing words that vilify or ridicule God, the Bible, or religious beliefs. It is a misdemeanor, and two reasons formerly underlay its being a crime: (1) it tended to cause a breach of the peace between the blasphemer and those outraged by his or her words, and (2) because Christianity was a part of common law, blasphemy tended to undermine the law. Only the first reason remains, for Christianity is no longer a part of the law. The manner rather than the content of the utterance or publication renders it blasphemous; a statement of opinion, however heretical (see Heresy) to a religion, is not punishable as blasphemy. Thus, scurrility and a resultant tendency to provoke a public disturbance are the criteria for blasphemy, and statutes condemning it are held to be in consonance with the laws that protect freedom of speech and religion. It is still a crime in the United Kingdom and in most of the United States, but prosecutions are now rare. (1)

Blasphemy, Sabbath, Lord’s Prayer, Bible

From the book The Clergyman’s Hand-book of Law, about Blasphemy, Sabbath, Lord’s Prayer, Bible (1): Christianity is a part of the common law of the United States; it is on this ground that blasphemy and violation of the Sabbath are made criminal offenses and that the Lord’s Prayer and the Bible are used in the schools.395

Resources

Notes and References

  1. Charles M. Scanlan, The Clergyman’s Hand-book of Law. The Law of Church and Grave (1909), Benziger Brothers, New York, Cincinnati, Chicago

See Also

  • Religion
  • Church

Resources

Notes and References

  1. Encarta Online Encyclopedia

See Also


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