(November 7, 2010 at 9:07 am)Paul the Human Wrote: Being insulted or disagreed with does not make one a victim.
You have to imagine that from a theist's point of view. They see God as their Father, saviour, light, etc. Insulting God would be like insulting their family or their country, their culture, anything like that. Insulting something you care deeply about DOES make you a victim, and i can understand why blasphemy would be regarded as bad for that reason. I, as an atheist, of course am opposed to any kind of blasphemy law and we completely agree on that, but you have to realize that words can hurt someone terribly. Sufferers of psychological injuries are considered liable to receive damages by law, and as such they are victims in the legal sense of the word.
Now if you think "there is no way you can actually be hurt by blasphemy", remember that thousands of muslims took to the streets in protesting the caricatures of Mohamed. They were hurt and offended. From our point of view, it's ridiculous, but remember that: other people do not always think like you do.
As such, blasphemy is not a victimless crime.
I do not wish blasphemy to be illegal, but i can see how it can hurt some people.
