In the News – Friday May 8
May 8, 2009 No Comments

In the News – Friday May 8

If you're truly liberal even hate-speech must be free (opinion piece by David Quinn in the Irish Independent) Ireland bucks trend with anti-blasphemy law (news item by John Ozimek in The Register) 

Is God the Most Unpleasant Character in All Fiction?
May 8, 2009 3 Comments

Is God the Most Unpleasant Character in All Fiction?

Publishing or saying this could be illegal in Ireland if the new blasphemy law is passed: "The God of the Old Testament is arguably the most unpleasant character in all fiction: jealous and proud of it; a petty, unjust, unforgiving control-freak; a vindictive, bloodthristy ethnic cleanser; a misogynistic, homophobic, racist, ...

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Defending the Right to Offend
May 8, 2009 No Comments

Defending the Right to Offend

Many important ideas in the history of humankind have been considered offensive when they were first proposed. Indeed, the people proposing such ideas often did so knowing that they would cause offense. Here are some articles defending the right to offend as a necessary part of free speech. Defend the ...

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Jesus Christ! The Musical – Jesus Will Survive
May 8, 2009 No Comments

Jesus Christ! The Musical – Jesus Will Survive

Publishing this could be illegal in Ireland if the new blasphemy law is passed.

In the News – Thursday May 7
May 7, 2009 No Comments

In the News – Thursday May 7

Blasphemy law only panders to the deranged instincts of an intolerant immigrant minority (opinion piece by Kevin Myers in the Irish Independent)

Muslims and Public Religious Outrage
May 7, 2009 2 Comments

Muslims and Public Religious Outrage

Publishing or saying this could be illegal in Ireland if the new blasphemy law is passed: "Religious 'outrage' is an almost unknown phenomenon in our culture: but it is so common on the Islamic street that one often wonders: do Muslims know any other public mood? And whereas I can ...

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Blasphemy Laws are Legal Protection of Nonsense
May 7, 2009 No Comments

Blasphemy Laws are Legal Protection of Nonsense

The blasphemy laws are the legal protection of nonsense. Why is there not an equivalent of the blasphemy laws for science? The reason is that science can take any criticism leveled against it. That's how science, and therefore our understanding of the universe, continue to develop.  Factions of scientists do ...

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Sarah Silverman – My Boyfriend is Catholic
May 7, 2009 No Comments

Sarah Silverman – My Boyfriend is Catholic

Publishing or saying this could be illegal in Ireland if the new blasphemy law is passed.

In the News – Wed May 6
May 6, 2009 No Comments

In the News – Wed May 6

Sinister blasphemy law would play into the hands of religious nut cases (opinion piece by Stephen King in the Irish Examiner) A blasphemy clause that does not fit the Bill (opinion piece by Newton Emerson in the Irish Times) Pakistan lawyer threatens to kill Christian charged with blasphemy (news item ...

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What if a Religion Deserves to be Disliked Intensely?
May 6, 2009 3 Comments

What if a Religion Deserves to be Disliked Intensely?

Publishing or saying this could be illegal in Ireland if the new blasphemy law is passed: "But what is wrong with inciting intense dislike of a religion, if the activities or teachings of that religion are so outrageous, irrational or abusive of human rights that they deserve to be disliked ...

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