'Blasphemy is a victimless crime' is utter arrogance

[Rwandrall]

It is just highly AMAZING how this OP broke down after a few posts. First one was alright, second one was decent, and then it fell down into a pit of utter nonsense.

Although i can kindda understand him: EVERY SINGLE answer was a bash against him. I agree with him there might be too much of a consensus between atheists around here...

[ib.me.ub]

whats wrong with bashing people. consensus, pfffft, really, around here, no, never.........

[Rwandrall]

well if 10 people gang up on one bashing them over and over, i can understand why they would be disapointed. And if you think there isn't a consensus, check threads like "Bibles in Hotel Rooms" that are basically a way for atheist posters to continually try to top each other in being more bashful towards religion without any actual arguments, it's just a bashfest against something that isn't even given the chance to defend itself...sometimes it's sad really.

And although not all atheists here are like this...most are. Because most people who post on the internet do so because of strong views and the desire to express them, the moderate atheists just don't give a fuck, which i admire.

[ib.me.ub]

should i have added a smiley face to my post?

[Rwandrall]

heh, i suck at sarcasm

[Welsh cake]

Please, whether you’re trying and failing to be sarcastic or not, accusing us of Ad hominem abuse is irrespective of the OP’s inane pile of disingenuous bullshit.

Btw there is at least a consensus on the spelling of atheist... its not "athiest".

[ib.me.ub]

ahhh, the thousand headed snake has arisen again.

[Paul the Human]

Wow. This thread got quite ridiculous, didn't it?

Existentialist, I agree that the things you listed should not be considered crimes by anyone, anywhere... but if a government declares any act to be 'illegal', then committing that act is a crime within the jurisdiction of that government. That doesn't make them right, but it does make said action a crime. That's the problem with declaring something to be illegal. When something is declared illegal... crime is created, as people will still commit the act despite the laws against it. Every time. If you do not understand that, then I contend that you do not understand what makes something a 'crime'. Put simply... if it is against the law, it is a crime. The rightness or wrongness of the law is irrelevant. When a law is broken, a crime is committed... whether one agrees with that law or not.

Blasphemy is against the law in some places, which makes committing blasphemy a 'crime' in those places. That 'crime' has no victims beyond god and the sensibilities of those that worship him, but it is a crime nonetheless. Thankfully, such laws against blasphemy are dying out, because they remove freedom of thought and expression from those that do not believe in and/or worship this god character. Being insulted or disagreed with does not make one a victim.

[Rwandrall]

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.

[Paul the Human]

Hurt their feelings, yes. Actually hurt them, no. Having your feelings hurt does not make you a victim... unless it is directed at you. If, for example, I say that Muslims are all terrorist pedophiles... then I have insulted Muslims directly and they can claim they have been victimized. If, however, I blaspheme and say that Allah does not exist... then they may get upset that I have disparaged something they believe in, but not that I have victimized them directly. Those Muslims you mentioned took to the streets to stifle the freedom of thought and expression of others. They weren't victims. If anything... they were victimizing the rights of others to disagree with them openly.