25 Blasphemous Quotes

From today, 1 January 2010, the new Irish blasphemy law becomes operational, and we begin our campaign to have it repealed. Blasphemy is now a crime punishable by a €25,000 fine.

In response, we have published a list of 25 blasphemous quotes:

1. Jesus Christ, when asked if he was the son of God, in Matthew 26:64: “Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.” According to the Christian Bible, the Jewish chief priests and elders and council deemed this statement by Jesus to be blasphemous, and they sentenced Jesus to death for saying it.

2. Jesus Christ, talking to Jews about their God, in John 8:44: “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him.” This is one of several chapters in the Christian Bible that can give a scriptural foundation to Christian anti-Semitism. The first part of John 8, the story of “whoever is without sin cast the first stone”, was not in the original version, but was added centuries later. The original John 8 is a debate between Jesus and some Jews. In brief, Jesus calls the Jews who disbelieve him sons of the Devil, the Jews try to stone him, and Jesus runs away and hides.

3. Muhammad, quoted in Hadith of Bukhari, Vol 1 Book 8 Hadith 427: “May Allah curse the Jews and Christians for they built the places of worship at the graves of their prophets.” This quote is attributed to Muhammad on his death-bed as a warning to Muslims not to copy this practice of the Jews and Christians. It is one of several passages in the Koran and in Hadith that can give a scriptural foundation to Islamic anti-Semitism, including the assertion in Sura 5:60 that Allah cursed Jews and turned some of them into apes and swine.

4. Mark Twain, describing the Christian Bible in Letters from the Earth, 1909: “Also it has another name – The Word of God. For the Christian thinks every word of it was dictated by God. It is full of interest. It has noble poetry in it; and some clever fables; and some blood-drenched history; and some good morals; and a wealth of obscenity; and upwards of a thousand lies… But you notice that when the Lord God of Heaven and Earth, adored Father of Man, goes to war, there is no limit. He is totally without mercy — he, who is called the Fountain of Mercy. He slays, slays, slays! All the men, all the beasts, all the boys, all the babies; also all the women and all the girls, except those that have not been deflowered. He makes no distinction between innocent and guilty… What the insane Father required was blood and misery; he was indifferent as to who furnished it.” Twain’s book was published posthumously in 1939. His daughter, Clara Clemens, at first objected to it being published, but later changed her mind in 1960 when she believed that public opinion had grown more tolerant of the expression of such ideas. That was half a century before Fianna Fail and the Green Party imposed a new blasphemy law on the people of Ireland.

5. Tom Lehrer, The Vatican Rag, 1963: “Get in line in that processional, step into that small confessional. There, the guy who’s got religion’ll tell you if your sin’s original. If it is, try playing it safer, drink the wine and chew the wafer. Two, four, six, eight, time to transubstantiate!”

6. Randy Newman, God’s Song, 1972: “And the Lord said: I burn down your cities – how blind you must be. I take from you your children, and you say how blessed are we. You all must be crazy to put your faith in me. That’s why I love mankind.”

7. James Kirkup, The Love That Dares to Speak its Name, 1976: “While they prepared the tomb I kept guard over him. His mother and the Magdalen had gone to fetch clean linen to shroud his nakedness. I was alone with him… I laid my lips around the tip of that great cock, the instrument of our salvation, our eternal joy. The shaft, still throbbed, anointed with death’s final ejaculation.” This extract is from a poem that led to the last successful blasphemy prosecution in Britain, when Denis Lemon was given a suspended prison sentence after he published it in the now-defunct magazine Gay News. In 2002, a public reading of the poem, on the steps of St. Martin-in-the-Fields church in Trafalgar Square, failed to lead to any prosecution. In 2008, the British Parliament abolished the common law offences of blasphemy and blasphemous libel.

8. Matthias, son of Deuteronomy of Gath, in Monty Python’s Life of Brian, 1979: “Look, I had a lovely supper, and all I said to my wife was that piece of halibut was good enough for Jehovah.”

9. Rev Ian Paisley MEP to the Pope in the European Parliament, 1988: “I denounce you as the Antichrist.” Paisley’s website describes the Antichrist as being “a liar, the true son of the father of lies, the original liar from the beginning… he will imitate Christ, a diabolical imitation, Satan transformed into an angel of light, which will deceive the world.”

10. Conor Cruise O’Brien, 1989: “In the last century the Arab thinker Jamal al-Afghani wrote: ‘Every Muslim is sick and his only remedy is in the Koran.’ Unfortunately the sickness gets worse the more the remedy is taken.”

11. Frank Zappa, 1989: “If you want to get together in any exclusive situation and have people love you, fine – but to hang all this desperate sociology on the idea of The Cloud-Guy who has The Big Book, who knows if you’ve been bad or good – and cares about any of it – to hang it all on that, folks, is the chimpanzee part of the brain working.”

12. Salman Rushdie, 1990: “The idea of the sacred is quite simply one of the most conservative notions in any culture, because it seeks to turn other ideas – uncertainty, progress, change – into crimes.” In 1989, Ayatollah Khomeini of Iran issued a fatwa ordering Muslims to kill Rushdie because of blasphemous passages in Rushdie’s novel The Satanic Verses.

13. Bjork, 1995: “I do not believe in religion, but if I had to choose one it would be Buddhism. It seems more livable, closer to men… I’ve been reading about reincarnation, and the Buddhists say we come back as animals and they refer to them as lesser beings. Well, animals aren’t lesser beings, they’re just like us. So I say fuck the Buddhists.”

14. Amanda Donohoe on her role in the Ken Russell movie Lair of the White Worm, 1995: “Spitting on Christ was a great deal of fun. I can’t embrace a male god who has persecuted female sexuality throughout the ages, and that persecution still goes on today all over the world.”

15. George Carlin, 1999: “Religion easily has the greatest bullshit story ever told. Think about it. Religion has actually convinced people that there’s an invisible man living in the sky who watches everything you do, every minute of every day. And the invisible man has a special list of ten things he does not want you to do. And if you do any of these ten things, he has a special place, full of fire and smoke and burning and torture and anguish, where he will send you to live and suffer and burn and choke and scream and cry forever and ever ’til the end of time! But He loves you. He loves you, and He needs money! He always needs money! He’s all-powerful, all-perfect, all-knowing, and all-wise, somehow just can’t handle money! Religion takes in billions of dollars, they pay no taxes, and they always need a little more. Now, talk about a good bullshit story. Holy Shit!”

16. Paul Woodfull as Ding Dong Denny O’Reilly, The Ballad of Jaysus Christ, 2000: “He said me ma’s a virgin and sure no one disagreed, Cause they knew a lad who walks on water’s handy with his feet… Jaysus oh Jaysus, as cool as bleedin’ ice, With all the scrubbers in Israel he could not be enticed, Jaysus oh Jaysus, it’s funny you never rode, Cause it’s you I do be shoutin’ for each time I shoot me load.”

17. Jesus Christ, in Jerry Springer The Opera, 2003: “Actually, I’m a bit gay.” In 2005, the Christian Institute tried to bring a prosecution against the BBC for screening Jerry Springer the Opera, but the UK courts refused to issue a summons.

18. Tim Minchin, Ten-foot Cock and a Few Hundred Virgins, 2005: “So you’re gonna live in paradise, With a ten-foot cock and a few hundred virgins, So you’re gonna sacrifice your life, For a shot at the greener grass, And when the Lord comes down with his shiny rod of judgment, He’s gonna kick my heathen ass.”

19. Richard Dawkins in The God Delusion, 2006: “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, bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser; a misogynistic, homophobic, racist, infanticidal, genocidal, filicidal, pestilential, megalomaniacal, sadomasochistic, capriciously malevolent bully.” In 2007 Turkish publisher Erol Karaaslan was charged with the crime of insulting believers for publishing a Turkish translation of The God Delusion. He was acquitted in 2008, but another charge was brought in 2009. Karaaslan told the court that “it is a right to criticise religions and beliefs as part of the freedom of thought and expression.”

20. Pope Benedict XVI quoting a 14th century Byzantine emperor, 2006: “Show me just what Muhammad brought that was new and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached.” This statement has already led to both outrage and condemnation of the outrage. The Organisation of the Islamic Conference, the world’s largest Muslim body, said it was a “character assassination of the prophet Muhammad”. The Malaysian Prime Minister said that “the Pope must not take lightly the spread of outrage that has been created.” Pakistan’s foreign Ministry spokesperson said that “anyone who describes Islam as a religion as intolerant encourages violence”. The European Commission said that “reactions which are disproportionate and which are tantamount to rejecting freedom of speech are unacceptable.”

21. Christopher Hitchens in God is not Great, 2007: “There is some question as to whether Islam is a separate religion at all… Islam when examined is not much more than a rather obvious and ill-arranged set of plagiarisms, helping itself from earlier books and traditions as occasion appeared to require… It makes immense claims for itself, invokes prostrate submission or ‘surrender’ as a maxim to its adherents, and demands deference and respect from nonbelievers into the bargain. There is nothing—absolutely nothing—in its teachings that can even begin to justify such arrogance and presumption.”

22. PZ Myers, on his desecration of a Roman Catholic communion host, 2008: “You would not believe how many people are writing to me, insisting that these horrible little crackers (they look like flattened bits of styrofoam) are literally pieces of their god, and that this omnipotent being who created the universe can actually be seriously harmed by some third-rate liberal intellectual at a third-rate university… However, inspired by an old woodcut of Jews stabbing the host, I thought of a simple, quick thing to do: I pierced it with a rusty nail (I hope Jesus’s tetanus shots are up to date). And then I simply threw it in the trash, followed by the classic, decorative items of trash cans everywhere, old coffeegrounds and a banana peel.”

23. Ian O’Doherty, 2009: “(If defamation of religion was illegal) it would be a crime for me to say that the notion of transubstantiation is so ridiculous that even a small child should be able to see the insanity and utter physical impossibility of a piece of bread and some wine somehow taking on corporeal form. It would be a crime for me to say that Islam is a backward desert superstition that has no place in modern, enlightened Europe and it would be a crime to point out that Jewish settlers in Israel who believe they have a God given right to take the land are, frankly, mad. All the above assertions will, no doubt, offend someone or other.”

24. Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, 2009: “Whether a person is atheist or any other, there is in fact in my view something not totally human if they leave out the transcendent… we call it God… I think that if you leave that out you are not fully human.” Because atheism is not a religion, the Irish blasphemy law does not protect atheists from abusive and insulting statements about their fundamental beliefs. While atheists are not seeking such protection, we include the statement here to point out that it is discriminatory that this law does not hold all citizens equal.

25. Dermot Ahern, Irish Minister for Justice, introducing his blasphemy law at an Oireachtas Justice Committee meeting, 2009, and referring to comments made about him personally: “They are blasphemous.” Deputy Pat Rabbitte replied: “Given the Minister’s self-image, it could very well be that we are blaspheming,” and Minister Ahern replied: “Deputy Rabbitte says that I am close to the baby Jesus, I am so pure.” So here we have an Irish Justice Minister joking about himself being blasphemed, at a parliamentary Justice Committee discussing his own blasphemy law, that could make his own jokes illegal.

Finally, as a bonus, Micheal Martin, Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs, opposing attempts by Islamic States to make defamation of religion a crime at UN level, 2009: “We believe that the concept of defamation of religion is not consistent with the promotion and protection of human rights. It can be used to justify arbitrary limitations on, or the denial of, freedom of expression. Indeed, Ireland considers that freedom of expression is a key and inherent element in the manifestation of freedom of thought and conscience and as such is complementary to freedom of religion or belief.” Just months after Minister Martin made this comment, his colleague Dermot Ahern introduced Ireland’s new blasphemy law.

Atheist Ireland

262 Comments

  1. Avatar
    Carlo January 02, 2010

    Go Atheists!!!!

    Don’t let Ahern fool you.

  2. Avatar
    drd January 02, 2010

    Perhaps your politicians ought to read “Inherit the Wind”. I would not consider myself an Atheist but I do support a person’s right to think for themself

  3. Avatar
    Against all Gods January 02, 2010

    Good luck. Well done for speaking up.

  4. Avatar
    quinn haynie January 02, 2010

    thats the stuff! religion will be the next outdated tradition to go, i just hope materialism doesn’t replace it. i’m thinking understanding and love might do..

  5. Avatar
    Colin Kerr January 02, 2010

    Excellently done. Christianity for the first 300+ years of its existence was never about coercion. If the Christians in Ireland can’t remember that, thank you for keeping them accountable. And I say this as an American pastor.

  6. Avatar
    California January 02, 2010

    Refreshing and honest. It is time to put the superstitions and ghost stories of the middle ages to rest. We live in the 21st century where explanations are rational rather than supernatural. Religion is causing violence, conflict, hatred, death, war, misery and moral confusion throughout the world.

  7. Avatar
    Mediocrates January 02, 2010

    Thank you Atheist Ireland

  8. Avatar
    Ignorance is bliss January 02, 2010

    Silencing an opinion closes the mind.

  9. Avatar
    California January 02, 2010

    Refreshing and honest. It is time to put the superstitions and ghost stories of the middle ages to rest. We live in the 21st century where explanations are rational rather than supernatural. Religion is causing violence, conflict, hatred, war, misery and moral confusion throughout the world. For the sake of peace and human progress religions and gods have got to go.

  10. Avatar
    Sha January 02, 2010

    At least you can have an organization called “Athiest Ireland”. Here in teh US, we are so backward, there will be millions hyperventilating if we have an organization call “Athiest America”.
    Here’s the masses are braiwashed into a manic frenzy where they firmly believe that decency (or ethics) cannot be man’s nature – unless mandated by religion (and threatened with horrible consequences). Athiests are treated like sub-human freiks.
    Dont believe it? Just watch US politicians tripping over each other stating who has more ‘faith’ than the other.

    American Athiest

  11. Avatar
    Armageddon January 02, 2010

    When 99942 Apophis comes it won’t make a difference what we think.

  12. Avatar
    Sha January 02, 2010

    Sorry for two posts folks – I hit the submit button before I could proof-read.

    At least you can have an organization called “Atheist Ireland”. Here in the US, we are so backward, there will be millions hyperventilating if we do what you are doing.

    Here the masses are brainwashed into a manic frenzy where they firmly believe that decency (or ethics) cannot be man’s nature – unless they are mandated by a religion (and threatened with horrible consequences).

    Atheists are treated like sub-human freaks.

    Don’t believe it? Just watch US politicians tripping over each other stating who has more ‘faith’ than the other.

    American Atheist

  13. Avatar
    Eik Corell January 02, 2010

    Keep opposing this fascist legislation whatever you do, and keep the rest of the world informed about any consequences that occur as a result of this publication!

    Just and Atheist from Denmark, hoping Ireland will come to its senses and not mandate respect for the thing that has torn it apart.

  14. Avatar
    Dato January 02, 2010

    Seeking humanism by provocation… you’re sick!

  15. Avatar
    Mason Porter January 02, 2010

    Here, here! (Or perhaps in reaction to the listing here, I should perhaps say either “Hell yes!” or “Amen!”?)

    Anyway, I’ll be sure to say something “blasphemous” the next time I visit my collaborators in Ireland. (I usually manage to do that without trying anyway.)

  16. Avatar
    Ania January 02, 2010

    dear atheists
    sorry to say but you’re all a bit fucked up
    but i love you anyway

  17. Avatar
    Barry January 02, 2010

    Thank you for defending freedom of speech! This is tremendously important work you are doing.

  18. Avatar
    John January 02, 2010

    Whatever you are thinking, just think first?

    Proverbs 15

    1 A gentle answer turns away wrath,
    but a harsh word stirs up anger.

    2 The tongue of the wise commends knowledge,
    but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.

    3 The eyes of the LORD are everywhere,
    keeping watch on the wicked and the good.

    4 The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life,
    but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.

    5 A fool spurns his father’s discipline,
    but whoever heeds correction shows prudence.

    6 The house of the righteous contains great treasure,
    but the income of the wicked brings them trouble.

    7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge;
    not so the hearts of fools.

    8 The LORD detests the sacrifice of the wicked,
    but the prayer of the upright pleases him.

    9 The LORD detests the way of the wicked
    but he loves those who pursue righteousness.

    10 Stern discipline awaits him who leaves the path;
    he who hates correction will die.

    11 Death and Destruction [a] lie open before the LORD—
    how much more the hearts of men!

    12 A mocker resents correction;
    he will not consult the wise.

    13 A happy heart makes the face cheerful,
    but heartache crushes the spirit.

    14 The discerning heart seeks knowledge,
    but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.

    15 All the days of the oppressed are wretched,
    but the cheerful heart has a continual feast.

    16 Better a little with the fear of the LORD
    than great wealth with turmoil.

    17 Better a meal of vegetables where there is love
    than a fattened calf with hatred.

    18 A hot-tempered man stirs up dissension,
    but a patient man calms a quarrel.

    19 The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns,
    but the path of the upright is a highway.

    20 A wise son brings joy to his father,
    but a foolish man despises his mother.

    21 Folly delights a man who lacks judgment,
    but a man of understanding keeps a straight course.

    22 Plans fail for lack of counsel,
    but with many advisers they succeed.

    23 A man finds joy in giving an apt reply—
    and how good is a timely word!

    24 The path of life leads upward for the wise
    to keep him from going down to the grave. [b]

    25 The LORD tears down the proud man’s house
    but he keeps the widow’s boundaries intact.

    26 The LORD detests the thoughts of the wicked,
    but those of the pure are pleasing to him.

    27 A greedy man brings trouble to his family,
    but he who hates bribes will live.

    28 The heart of the righteous weighs its answers,
    but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil.

    29 The LORD is far from the wicked
    but he hears the prayer of the righteous.

    30 A cheerful look brings joy to the heart,
    and good news gives health to the bones.

    31 He who listens to a life-giving rebuke
    will be at home among the wise.

    32 He who ignores discipline despises himself,
    but whoever heeds correction gains understanding.

    33 The fear of the LORD teaches a man wisdom, [c]
    and humility comes before honor.

  19. Avatar
    Richard January 02, 2010

    It is frightening to believe that a modern, democratic country like Ireland could have such draconian and archaic laws. As always, it seems freedom of speech and equality under the law must be championed by the evil atheists. Good luck.

  20. Avatar
    Korky January 02, 2010

    Atheists imposing their views on everyone else! Who would have thought …..

  21. Avatar
    Alex January 02, 2010

    Number 23 is sheer brilliance.

  22. Avatar
    Liz January 02, 2010

    You guys are wonderful! Keep up the good work!

  23. Avatar
    Myles January 02, 2010

    Just remember there is a HUGE difference between God and Religion.

    Man has perverted the name of God by using religion as an excuse to do horrible things.

    I hope there is a God and an afterlife but I know I can’t prove it. And science can’t disprove it either. For all we know God used the processes we have discovered in science to create everything we see.

    Don’t let religion hurt your relationship with God.

  24. Avatar
    rangdangdoodle January 02, 2010

    please find life soon in outherspace!!!!!
    or will they adapt?!AAAaaaaahh!!

  25. Avatar
    la_reine January 02, 2010

    If god were alive today, he’d be an atheist.
    – Kurt Vonnegut

    So far as I can remember, there is not one word in the gospels in praise of intelligence.
    – Bertrand Russell

    Fingers crossed for your success in repealing this utterly ridiculous, antiquated, plain old stupid law!

  26. Avatar
    rangdangdoodle January 02, 2010

    sorry i could not control myself,i am a bit afraid of religion.

  27. Avatar
    Dani January 02, 2010

    Wow! I can’t believe how Big Brother Ireland has become!

    Either that, or the powers that be are scared some crazy Muslim is going to go blowing things up and causing problems as usual, so they’ve decided to try and appease the religious extremists… how SAD and PATHETIC!!

    Despite all the problems here in the USA, at least we still have our freedom of speech! Ireland, you should NOT stand for this law which pushes your democratic country back hundreds of years!! Before you know it, they’ll tell you what you can read, what you can watch, who you can talk to… TERRIBLE!!!

  28. Avatar
    Adelaide January 02, 2010

    Keep up the good work. This is too important an issue to ignore.

  29. Avatar
    Bob Z January 02, 2010

    What were the Irish lawmakers drinking when they came up with this one? I’m sure it won’t be taken too seriously. But just thank your lucky charms you’re not the Islamic Republic of Ireland…yet.

  30. Avatar
    Stephen McCrory January 02, 2010

    Good on you. All right thinking people, whether of a religious bent or not, must oppose this blatant attempt to pander to the morally bankrupt state religious leaders and to the worst of their outdated, unwanted and dangerous ideas.

    Keep up the pressure.

  31. Avatar
    Simone Z. January 02, 2010

    Can this law be legally challenged in the Irish courts?

    It is appalling that Ireland is willfully reentering the Dark Ages with the suppression of speech. Shame on the church and shame on the secular authorities that hopped into bed with the theocrats.

    Shalom.

  32. Avatar
    Charles January 02, 2010

    Way to go -Standing up to unjust laws is hard, but necessary. If you end up having to pay the fine under the new law be sure to put up an appeal here. I’m sure your fellow humanists will pony up.

  33. Avatar
    Litesp33d January 03, 2010

    How can Eire expect to be taken seriously as a modern nation when they allow their politicians to create laws to ban criticism of superstition. And this after all the revelations that suggest most priests really do want to ‘protect’ children.

    It is true that evil does exist in this world and it comes wearing religious garments and quoting self contradictory scriptural dogma. Every person who uses religion rather than reason as their moral compass ultimately bears responsibility for acts like suicide bombers. For each person who condones religious delusion provides a rung on the ladder of acceptance which eventually leads to a viloent act carried out in the name of their particular imaginary friend.

    You know the only answer my secular friends is to vote for the non religious candidate regardless of whatever their other views may be and let it be known publically this is your intention. We have come forward too far to slip back into the darkness.

  34. Avatar
    Rex January 03, 2010

    Emperor Constantine and his Bishops, have an awful lot to answer for, for changing the original tenets of Christianity, to suit their own needs!

  35. Avatar
    Shannon January 03, 2010

    My fellow US American is not kidding about the persecution of Atheist in the States. It is impossible to get elected to any high office as an Atheist. Very few people ‘come out’ as Atheist. It is easier to be a public homosexual in the US than an atheist. (Nothing wrong with either- just saying.) Were I to come out to my family and in laws I would never hear then end of it and I would be partially shunned. People who don’t believe are very quiet and often go to church because to not go to church in much of the US is viewed suspiciously. Oddly enough, the leadership of the small church I used to go to are very supportive. ( I kind of came out, I just couldn’t stand it anymore) People who actually try to follow the idealized versions of Christ. More rare then Atheist in the USA.

    Perhaps we should register as a religion. We wouldn’t have to pay taxes.

  36. Avatar
    Mook January 03, 2010

    One thing’s for sure: Bjork is as mentally challenged as her contorted groanings suggest.

  37. Avatar
    de Dribbelaar January 03, 2010

    Support from Holland against these stupid laws!
    De regering en de kerk proberen het bestaan van god door middel van een wet aan te tonen.
    Those who do not beleive in god and say so, are criminals. Back to the year 1510.

  38. Avatar
    Brendan Roberts January 03, 2010

    A cautionary note:
    I have no concerns with the expression of any religious views, but there are some I decline to listen to because of the way they go about it.
    I have no problem with Richard Dawkins expressing his opinion on theism(and I’m sure that he is more intelligent than I am), but I pay him no attention because of his attitude that religion is intellectually contemptible and that those with whom he disagrees deserve no respect.

  39. Avatar
    Daniel Lovejoy January 03, 2010

    If your numbers are great enough, try to inundate the courts by having everyone say something blasphemous every single day, and then appeal the decision in court.
    Having thousands of new court cases every day might make the lawmakers wake up.
    What religion are they using to determine blasphemy? Catholic, Protestant, Wicca , Islam, Buddhist, pagan, ????? Which religion is the one you can’t insult? Does that mean all other religions are not valid? What kind of slippery slope do the Irish courts want to climb?

  40. Avatar
    word of god January 03, 2010

    I’m not an atheist but I do believe words that are coming out of a living man’s mouth should be protected more than that of a dead man’s. Thoughts are not criminal. Come on Ireland, where’d your heart go?

  41. Avatar
    Ben January 03, 2010

    interesting… without declaring christianity to be the one and only religion, this new law will open the way for millions to be made by suing catholics for denying the existence of allah, xenu and all the rest of them.
    blasphemy against which god?

  42. Avatar
    Kev January 03, 2010

    For people who don’t believe in religion, you talk about it a lot!
    Isn’t there a irony in the fact that you guys post and know more about the bible than those who support it.
    Rock on, I say…but if you don’t like something, just leave it, live your own life and forget about it.

  43. Avatar
    Gary Kelly January 03, 2010

    If you want true enlightenment, read Atheist Ireland’s anti-religious quotations. If religion could rule the world as well as the thinking of all its inhabitants, it would. And that’s scary.

  44. Avatar
    Slikwillie January 03, 2010

    Thanks for this, the world is starting to drown in religion, when we should be getting more enlightened. Please keep up the good work.

  45. Avatar
    Danielle January 03, 2010

    As each and every religion blasphemes every other religion by claiming to be the one “true” religion, is not this law unenforceable without banning all religion?

  46. Avatar
    Spijder January 03, 2010

    It’s humanity itself that is the main problem, not any religion or law we happened to inflict on ourselves. We are not a well species and religion is only one symptom, one of the milder ones at that, like a slight facial tic. We’re deluding ourselves to point at random opinions like religion and call it our most pressing problem. We’re all collectively insane with or without religion, any type of group ideology or philosophy.

  47. Avatar
    Michelle January 03, 2010

    More support for you from the US. This law is utterly archaic and sorry, goes against all intellectual instinct. Why is there this need to hold “some” things sacred? Next will the Irish be disallowed to insult people they consider ugly or unintelligent? How about a law against saying something insulting about a politician? Where does it end? The essence of freedom is being allowed to insult whomever and whatever you like!

  48. Avatar
    Ronan January 03, 2010

    To all those who confuse all of this as an anti-christian tirade or anti-theistic drive, you are sorely mistaken. This is about freedom of speech and the attempts to, in certain cases, suppress debate. Moreover the new laws are open to subjective interpretation and only exist to bring other religions into equity with Catholicism in Ireland (this last element being a good thing). The essential problem is that by doing so we continue the tradition of religion being enshrined in our constitution and not being a privately held belief open to scrutiny.

  49. Avatar
    Lisa January 03, 2010

    Kudos to you for attempting to fight this ridiculous law! I hope you get it overturned!

  50. Avatar
    tonypony January 03, 2010

    Unbloodybelievable! … The proposed blasphemy laws clearly shows what wasted spaces religious fundamentalist fanatical politicians really are (not limited to Ireland).

    It almost makes me wish there is a supreme being so that he/she could zap them all to smithereens.

    If this law gets through I will need to change my take on all those deleterious Irish jokes….unless the proposed blasphemy law is a mammoth joke on the rest of us 🙂

  51. Avatar
    Paul January 03, 2010

    1Then the LORD answered out of the whirlwind, and said,

    2Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?

    3Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.

    4Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.

    5Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?

    6Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;

    7When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

    8Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb?

    9When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it,

    10And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors,

    11And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?

    12Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place;

    13That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?

    14It is turned as clay to the seal; and they stand as a garment.

    15And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high arm shall be broken.

    16Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? or hast thou walked in the search of the depth?

    17Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death?

    18Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if thou knowest it all.

    19Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof,

    20That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest know the paths to the house thereof?

    21Knowest thou it, because thou wast then born? or because the number of thy days is great?

    22Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail,

    23Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?

    24By what way is the light parted, which scattereth the east wind upon the earth?

    25Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder;

    26To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man;

    27To satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth?

    28Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew?

    29Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it?

    30The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.

    31Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?

    32Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons?

    33Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?

    34Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee?

    35Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go and say unto thee, Here we are?

    36Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart?

    37Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven,

    38When the dust groweth into hardness, and the clods cleave fast together?

    39Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions,

    40When they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie in wait?

    41Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat.

    Be very careful, walking in ignorance and causing others to stumble is dangerous for you.

  52. Avatar
    Elián Maricón January 03, 2010

    Go Atheist Ireland!

    Here’s one more from Emma Goldman :

    “So weak and helpless was this “Savior of Men” that he must needs the whole human family to pay for him, unto all eternity, because he “hath died for them.” Redemption through the Cross is worse than damnation, because of the terrible burden it imposes upon humanity, because of the effect it has on the human soul, fettering and paralyzing it with the weight of the burden exacted through the death of Christ.
    Thousands of martyrs have perished, yet few, if any, of them have proved so helpless as the great Christian God. Thousands have gone to their death with greater fortitude, with more courage, with deeper faith in their ideas than the Nazarene. Nor did they expect eternal gratitude from their fellow-men because of what they endured for them.
    Compared with Socrates and Bruno, with the great martyrs of Russia, with the Chicago Anarchists, Francisco Ferrer, and unnumbered others, Christ cuts a poor figure indeed. Compared with the delicate, frail Spiridonova who underwent the most terrible tortures, the most horrible indignities, without losing faith in herself or her cause, Jesus is a veritable nonentity. They stood their ground and faced their executioners with unflinching determination, and though they, too, died for the people, they asked nothing in return for their great sacrifice.”

    There is a magnificently blasphemous picture at my site. It is on the front page and hard to miss. The designer who created it is a contributor to the site & says that you may feel free to use it as your own…though it might piss off a lot of Americans if you did!

    Stand strong!

  53. Avatar
    George January 03, 2010

    Those blasphemous quotations certainly ring very true, they very entertaining. More please !!

  54. Avatar
    Tony Cynic January 03, 2010

    Good luck fighting the new laws. They are another attempt to drag us back to the dark ages and we should all stand against them.

  55. Avatar
    Tom January 03, 2010

    Very nice work!
    Another support comes from Holland!
    Keep up the good stuff, Atheist Ireland.
    This ridiculous law should be terminated rightaway.

  56. Avatar
    Tony Cynic January 03, 2010

    Danielle says:
    January 3, 2010 at 12:28 am
    As each and every religion blasphemes every other religion by claiming to be the one “true” religion, is not this law unenforceable without banning all religion?

    Now there is an idea. Keep on claiming EVERYTHING OFFENDS ME.

  57. Avatar
    luca a. January 03, 2010

    I just invented my own pizza-religion. Which is, pizza is the supreme god. Now if you eat pizza, instead of worshiping it, you are insulting my religion and since I am a large majority of believers in pizza-religion, your insult qualifies as blasphemy. So prepare your cash…

    All my support from Italy.

  58. Avatar
    Douglas January 03, 2010

    George Bernard Shaw said “All great truths begin as blasphemies.” Add to that what Siddhartha Gautama—also known as the Buddha, or Enlightened One—said; “Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it—even if I have said it—unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense.”

    Unfortunately, the Irish government has lost sight of an essential strength of a true democracy, which is the freedom to express ideas that may be unpleasant at first because they are unfamiliar. The balance between offense and truth is delicate, and it seems to me the government has erred too far toward protecting against the bogeyman of offense. I feel strongly they ought to let these ideas come out, and let those ideas that are offensive get argued down by majority opinion rather than the prickly personalities of a touchy minority.

  59. Avatar
    Tom January 03, 2010

    Now that is nicely put, Douglas. Respect!

  60. Avatar
    john January 03, 2010

    i feel personally threatened by this law. i remember reading about the spanish inquisition in school and thinking how lucky i was to live in a time where such things didn’t exist. this law may not be as extreme as the inquisition but it is founded on that same mentality. i don’t want to live in a society which persecutes people for their beliefs. i genuinely thought this was a thing of the past. this law is a huge step backward for this nation and cannot be passed.

  61. Avatar
    Matt January 03, 2010

    Atheism is not necessarily anti-religion, just anti-deity/supernatural (from my understanding). I know several Unitarian Atheists who attend my Church. They are reasonable people and would find this law in direct conflict with their beliefs. They are respectful of other religions, but their statements could still be considered blasphemous. Just as peaching about my God to them is blasphemous.

  62. Avatar
    Chris Papalia January 03, 2010

    Please let me know when the first burning at the steak of a Blasphemer is scheduled and I’ll book myself a front row seat.
    I always thought that the claim that the vatican ran Irland were rubbish. Now I see that they are in fact true.

  63. Avatar
    ncooty January 03, 2010

    Great.

    If I understand this law correctly, we can now round up proselytizers. Anything said in favor of one religion is inherently blasphemous to another (e.g., check #1 on Jehovah’s Top Ten List). TV preachers will have to shut down their operations. I’m looking forward to watching this play out in court… from afar.

  64. Avatar
    Barry January 03, 2010

    What a regressive and shockingly right wing country we have.

    Keep up the good work, section 36 of the Defamation Act 2009 needs to be opposed in it’s entirety.

  65. Avatar
    Ken January 03, 2010

    And the Lord said: “How sillieth be he who hath quoted a really long bible passage on an atheist website, for thou have wasted thou’s time, as nobody hath the inclination to read it, even if thou putest “LORD” in big capital letters, as if we are doth supposed to be scared by it or something. And if we are doth walking in ignorance and everyone else be stumbling, doesn’t that doth mean that we are OK, if thouest think about it?”

    Oops, did I just blaspheme there? Can anyone spare me a few thousand quid?

  66. Avatar
    ncooty January 03, 2010

    A 25,000-euro indulgence?

    That won’t satisfy God… or Allah… or Zeus… or the Flying Spaghetti Monster… or whomever. No, we need to go Old School: public stonings, beheadings, torture, burning at the stake, etc.

    Think about it, these people had the audacity to SAY something that conflicts with other people’s religious beliefs!!! Gasp.

    For religions, critical thinking is like intellectual terrorism. 🙂

    Oh, Ireland. You guys are hilarious.

  67. Avatar
    Ammie1 January 03, 2010

    I’m still shaking my head in disbelief. For the first time, I’m ashamed of my Irish ancestry.

    am from USA

  68. Avatar
    Reason January 03, 2010

    Kudos and a “Go Athies!” from the U.S. Your fight is just and reason is on your side. My condolences that the so-called “leaders” of your nation are sufficiently credulous and simple minded to impose such foolishness and call it law.

    I write in full recognition that my own leaders are, by measure, far worse.

  69. Avatar
    scott January 03, 2010

    #11, by Frank Zappa, is an insult to Chimps everywhere.

  70. Avatar
    Brad@CulburraBeach January 03, 2010

    Thank you for making a stand against this ridiculous law.

    Here in Australia the government is trying the censor the internet.

    These are things which should never happen in modern, democratic countries.

    The nazi pope has called homosexuality “inherent moral evil” while protecting priests who molest children. He is causing genocide around the world by preventing millions of people from using condoms.

    Would I be to write this true statement in an Irish newspaper under this new law?

    Don’t let the bastards get away with this…more power to you!

    Brad Parry
    Culburra Beach,
    Australia

  71. Avatar
    Paul Reynolds January 03, 2010

    Well done. You’ve got lots of press coverage for this already. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8437460.stm

    Fianna Fail’s reaction to destroying the Irish economy is to bring in a law against blasphemy??! shame on us all for not revolting.

    Paul in Galway

  72. Avatar
    Rod Williams January 03, 2010

    Imagine an all knowing, all loving super intelligent being who is the only thing that exists in the entire universe feeling lonely and deciding to create a fairly ignorant herd of humans. Too bad the humans were not given a brain.

    If this psychic being created humans in order to receive worship or praise from what it made, that would be self worship.

    If I were the only entity in the universe and if I were lonely, would I create a herd of lame, war like, greedy, flesh ingesting animals or would I create equals whom I could converse and grow with and perhaps get lucky on occasion?

  73. Avatar
    Jim January 03, 2010

    While I’m not an atheist, as an Irish American and free speech advocate, I give you my full support in challenging this foolish blasphemy law. Hopefully it will be eliminated soon.

  74. Avatar
    fostert January 03, 2010

    I’ve seen how such laws work in India, and it’s not pretty. The courts just get bogged down in stupid cases while people kill each other over religion anyway. You are right to fight this. What saddens me is that Ireland has such a rich history of creativity and lively debate. I’d hate to see that dampened by such a stupid law.

  75. Avatar
    Colin January 03, 2010

    Let’s nuke Mecca.

  76. Avatar
    Peter B Workman January 03, 2010

    Revelation 2:8 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; 2:9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.

    The best method of defence is attack: there are many peoples of the world, that have been dammaged by the Judaic trio. and it is all documented in history.

    http://breez991.multiply.com/journal/item/34
    A short blog documenting the dammage done by the Roman Catholic anexation of their lands. all historicaly verifiable. But for the Judaic church; there would very likely be! No Atheists.

    Get lawyers around the world to put injunctions against the practice of any of the Judaic trio.

    By the word of Jesus; you can not become broken (corrupt fruit); but you be followers of False prophets/teachers as: Alexander VI, given name Rodrigo Borgia, Roman Catholic Pope from 1492 until his death, is the most memorable of the corrupt and secular popes of the Renaissance. http://www.nndb.com/people/159/000092880/

  77. Avatar
    Richard January 03, 2010

    Greetings and support from Australia.

    This is a very important fight for freedom of speech. At the same time, it is very funny to read the quotes in this context.

    Keep up the good work.

  78. Avatar
    Amy January 03, 2010

    More support from the US. This story is on the cnn.com home page, where I read about it. Please keep up the defiance, which is both good and important work.

  79. Avatar
    Mike Williamson January 03, 2010

    Three cheers for your work! I encourage you and say stand your ground. Reason and common sense are on your side. From the ‘Bible-Belt’ of central Kansas, USA.

  80. Avatar
    Ken January 03, 2010

    Religious people are idiots. So by that logic, all those in Ireland are….yup, you guessed it….

  81. Avatar
    LD Beghtol January 03, 2010

    Way to go, AI! Love from Brooklyn – and a quote from Joe Orton: “The man who said ‘Love thy neighbor’ was crucified by his.” Keep up the good work.

  82. Avatar
    Contrabardus January 03, 2010

    Yet more support from the US. Lots of us Irish decended over here cheering you on, and some who are not, but they’re not as sexy.

    There are those within our own government who would do this in a moment if they thought they could get away with it.

    Perhaps they should be reminded that Celestine I sending Palladius was no doubt considered a pretty big blasphemy by the Druids at the time?

    “Christianity might be a good thing if anyone has ever tried it.” George Bernard Shaw.

    “Work is the curse of the drinking class.” Oscar Wilde

    “We have always found the Irish to be a bit odd. They refuse to be English.” Winston Churchill

    We Americans have a bit of that too, probably got it from our Irish ancestors. The more fortunate of us get our looks from them too. Fight well, I’d wish you luck, but you’re already lucky enough to be Irish.

  83. Avatar
    Steve Jasper January 03, 2010

    More greetings and support from Australia.

    Why are all Godbotherers so damned humourless? Obviously being one of God’s chosen people (whichever crazy sect that may be) is grim work.

    Theists need to harden the f*ck up. If your deity can’t take a little blasphemy from time to time, it needs to toughen up. Get a grip.

    Did anyone else notice the absolute gem on Islam buried in the 25 quotes: “Pakistan’s foreign Ministry spokesperson said that “anyone who describes Islam as a religion as intolerant encourages violence”.” Um… if you describe something as intolerant and the reaction is violence, um, wouldn’t that confirm the original assertion that it IS intolerant?

  84. Avatar
    Jake January 03, 2010

    Goodness! You Irish need to kick this law back into the desert from wence it came. Why trade the modern world, with all its’ pitfalls for an Islamic overlord?

  85. Avatar
    Crystal W January 03, 2010

    I support you guys all the way. Free speech is necessary and wonderful.

  86. Avatar
    karl January 03, 2010

    When I first saw this story I thought you were trying to overturn some law created 300 years ago! A new law like this in 2010 is unbelievable. Religious extremism is the cause of huge problems in the word today … not the answer!

  87. Avatar
    Alec San Clair January 03, 2010

    Support from France. This law is archaic and must be overturned.

  88. Avatar
    Peter B Workman January 03, 2010

    The bible verse; from which the Ecleastical definition of ‘blasphemy’ originated. “Claiming for onself the rites, or atributes of ‘god’ ”

    John 10:32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? 10:33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.

    The fact that the Judaic religions; all claim to be in the image and likeness of god! Makes them all; blasphemous religions, by their own scriptures..

  89. Avatar
    Andy January 03, 2010

    I saw this on CNN. You have my support in the US! This law is ridiculous and silly. I think what they are really trying to do is avoid what happened to the Danish cartoonist and his cartoons regarding Islam…but at the price of your freedom. Any religion is not better than no religion. And no religion isn’t necessarily better than any religion. The government should simply leave people alone. Sure, atheists don’t “believe” in a God(s) and would like to see others follow suit, but all we really want is for people to just live in peace and stop bickering over religion. I know you can get this law changed, so good luck taking this to court…it’s absurd!

  90. Avatar
    Andy January 03, 2010

    Are they going to start burning witches at the stake too???

  91. Avatar
    Aaron January 03, 2010

    Jesus and the fiery furnace.
    Devil and the deep blue sea.
    Preacher say I’m gonna burn in hell for all eternity.
    But when I have my judgement day and I lock eyes with my savior, well,
    This is what I’m gonna tell him when he asks about my behavior…
    I’m gonna say;
    God was drunk when he made me.
    God was drunk when he made me.
    God was drunk when he made me.
    And that’s why I’m so crazy.
    Jesus and the fiery furnace.
    Devil and the deep blue sea.
    God was drunk when he made me…but that’s okay ’cause
    I forgive Him.
    See if it was God who made forgiveness, then before that he musta made sin.
    And who built the house of brotherly love, then let the Devil come dancing in?
    If it was God that saved the miracle child from the peril of the fiery flame,
    Well then it musta been him that killed the two hundred others just to glorify
    His name
    That’s why I say;
    God was drunk when he made me.
    God was drunk when he made me.
    God was drunk when he made me.
    And that’s why I spout heresy.
    Jesus and the fiery furnace,
    Devil and the deep blue sea.
    God was drunk when he made me but that’s okay…’cause I forgive Him.

    — Jim White

  92. Avatar
    Troy January 03, 2010

    I used to be a religious person. People turned me off, not God, not Jesus. People. I throw out any thing you site from the Bible, as it should be taken in whole. Reading the whole account of each Gospel and not taking parts, as many do and fit it to their own good.

    I throw out government telling people what their beliefs MUST be. What makes us all different is what we believe and, if held correctly, can be good conversation. I hold nothing against anyone for what they believe or don’t. Life is too short for bullshit like that. But I do hope they get rid of this and let each believe and live.

  93. Avatar
    Hassan January 03, 2010

    To Peter B Workman

    I’d like to clarify one thing. Islam is an Abrahamic religion and Muslims do not claim that humans are of God’s image.

    Muslims believe that the image of God is unknown and no human mind can comprehend how He looks like.

    I hope I have clarified Islamic’s position on image of God

  94. Avatar
    Don January 03, 2010

    Kudos from US on your quotes. I am also fearful of the push in the UN from Muslim nations (predominantly, but not solely) for a similar resolution. If you love your country, and freedom of speech, you’ll push to have your UN representative vote against this when it comes up. Interestingly Ireland supported at the UN something opposed to this idea here: http://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/LTD/N09/587/38/pdf/N0958738.pdf?OpenElement

    While the UN document, which uses double speak to both protect religion and remove free speech seems to exist here:
    http://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/LTD/N09/584/94/pdf/N0958494.pdf?OpenElement

    Note in particular pages 6 and 7. Scary stuff. Good luck in your battle.

  95. Avatar
    Fred January 03, 2010

    Let’s see, wouldn’t eating meat be blasphemous to Jains? Is Ireland now a vegetarian nation? Or does the law only apply to Christians? This will be fun.

  96. Avatar
    Badger January 03, 2010

    Does this mean the theory of Evolution is blasphemous

    because it contradicts the Bible?????

    Yet another example of polititans acting without thinking.

  97. Avatar
    SadImIrish (from the USA) January 03, 2010

    “I am an atheist.” Isn’t that blasphemy?

    I’ve never considered myself an atheist as it seems to suggest that there some level of validity to the whole “theist” part of the idea.

  98. Avatar
    Marie January 03, 2010

    Californian followers of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster support you

    Ramen

  99. Avatar
    Patrick (St?) January 03, 2010

    How recently have the religious law makers kept Ireland an abortion free state?

    Not sure how long ago condoms and the pill were not on the scene?

    Keep up the good work!!!!

  100. Avatar
    identitycrisis January 03, 2010

    Even more support from the US, to which religion does this ‘blasphemy’ pertain to? Roman Catholic, I’m guessing? What about the lawsuits against the Roman Catholic Church?

    Everyday, I would be put in jail if I lived in Ireland. At least once per hour, I make some blasphemous comment about religion, ANY religion, like this:

    God committed incest with Mary, isn’t she his daughter, on several levels? Isn’t she waaaaaaay younger than him? That is statutory rape.

    Keep up the good work! Let them know they can’t suppress freedom of speech!

  101. Avatar
    Francis January 03, 2010

    Just a short note of support from Mexico.

    The thing that has puzzled me is that most of the bible has been written by prophets, prophets by their very nature are either charlatans, in the business for financial gain or easy sex, or certified nutcases because they hear voices in their heads, whom would take serious a book that was compiled by the residents of the Dundrum mental hospital.

  102. Avatar
    steiner January 03, 2010

    Let’s not stop here, but let’s draw attention to the laws that the IOC is pushing in the U.N. in favor of anti- blasphemy laws. Let’s draw attention to laws that wish to silence those that speak against homosexuality as promiscuity and are persecuted as well.

    Those pushing these laws forget that Jesus called the Pharisees snakes and vipers whose father was the devil for they had no compassion, but cared only for their well being, using religion as a means to fleece their society(Hebrew society). Let’s not use the same strategy that Islamists use against those who criticise islam by labeling them islamophobes..and consequently name Jesus antisemitic.

    People ought to be able to critcise freely and those that do not like the criticism can use their speech to counter such criticism…

    As a Christian I am not afraid of those who challenge my faith in nonviolent ways. I reflect and respond. Case in point: a posting by one quoting Emma Goldman who point out that many suffered and died better than Christ did… I retort that they died, but Christ died and ressurrected for His Word is True.

  103. Avatar
    Mughal January 03, 2010

    We human beings must never compromise on freedom, secularism, democracy, human rights and separation between religion and state.

    If we do, we are strangling ourselves to death and paving the way to suffering, death and destruction.

    Religions are blasphemy against humanity. They all contradict each other proving beyond a shadow of doubt that not all can be true. Not only that but each and every religion is full of contradictions within and in relation to self evident facts. This proves beyond a shadow of doubt that all are false.

    It is not only the falsehood of religions that I am concerned with but also their teachings that dehumanize the otherwise decent human beings worldwide. People do evil in the name of their religions only because they are made to think right from their childhood by way of indoctrination that they are doing good.

    Yes, all should condemn laws against blasphemy anywhere and everywhere.

  104. Avatar
    Errol Larkan January 03, 2010

    This is a deeply important issue coming at an important time. All Religions were and are demonstrably created and followed by human beings. The claim that they were created by some unknown invisible infallible force that cannot and must not be questioned and criticised is the same deeply dangerous ignorance that underlies every fascist authoritarian dictatorship that has also demonstrably been created by similar human beings who all want the same thing. Control and power over the thoughts and actions of their fellow human beings. Freedom and Reason and Justice and secular human values are the only protection we have over these tyrants who have sought to impose their limited narrow ways on others. I will resist them to the end. These religious zealot have had their day. It is time to move forward into the light of day and mental and emotional sanity.

  105. Avatar
    Cupcake January 03, 2010

    It’s very hard to be tolerant of the superstitious when they are so intolerant of people who think for themselves.

    It must feel pretty embarrassing to be in a country that has just handcuffed itself more securely to the Dark Ages.

    Best of luck from Australia for an atheist-led enlightenment!

  106. Avatar
    dick January 03, 2010

    Sorry your government has lost it’s collective minds.

  107. Avatar
    Wade January 03, 2010

    Just a show of support from the USA. Keep up the good fight Ireland! Maybe someday we can all live free of religious intolerance.

  108. Avatar
    EddyCA January 03, 2010

    Here are a few more off the top of my head. Jesus Christ was the son of a whore who was so scared to admit that she’d been knocked up that she told everyone she was raped by a messenger from God. The prophet Moses was a murderous lecher. The Prophet Muhammad, may he rot in hell, was a charlatan and a bigot.

  109. Avatar
    liam g caldwell m.u.f.c January 03, 2010

    well done ireland!! if stupid athiests don’t like it , then don’t stay in a RELIGIOUS COUNTRY NOW FECK OFF!!!

    m.u.f.c

  110. Avatar
    Dessuka January 03, 2010

    Keep up with your good work! We can’t let religious mythologies and dogmas take over our institutions. Those who have read history know well how these mythologies were spread from the Middle East to the rest of the world (“holy wars”/”Jihad”). We all know that those holy wars killed hundreds of millions of innocent people in the name of “god”!. We all know that once imposed in Europe the same church practiced the Inquisition for 5.5 centuries killing millions of “witches!”. Then after that they engaged in 4 centuries of slavery in the name of “god” – BTW, Sainte D’Youville used to trade slaves in Montreal on behalf of the Catholic church and she is toady a Saint!!!!!! and American Indians and Black catholics consider her their saint – what a joke!!

    For the past century child molestation has become their trademark. Again in the name of “god”…. I strongly believe that that “god” may be crazy – what do you think?

    Anyway, if the Irish government sue you, just yelp and we in North America will help you as best as we can. There is no way we can tolerate such a garbage in a secular nation because we are all Irish, French, Americans, Chinese etc…….. There is only ONE human race and you should forget about the weird beliefs peddled in our societies about humanity.

  111. Avatar
    Sander January 03, 2010

    Best of luck with your endeavour. I have to admit my jaw hit the floor when I read what’s going on in Ireland. The US really isn’t that far behind unfortunately. Plenty of people here that would gladly undo any appearance of separation of church and state and blend them. That would mean that religious institutions regain what was painfully pried from their hands: power. That’s all religion is after all. A power play. Control the masses. Make the ‘sheep’ do your bidding. Devlishly smart, really. Pun intended.

  112. Avatar
    morry January 03, 2010

    Is it blasphemous for Irish priests and nuns to rape and molest children, and for the scum of the church to protect the aggressors?

  113. Avatar
    cecilie January 03, 2010

    So we’ve just been through another celebration of the birth of a geezer who was born 2010 years ago but dies on a different day each year.

    Here in Hong Kong there’s absolutely nothing about christ in christmas, just the naked worship of mammon without the pretense. But I’ve worked out the true story of Jesus’ conception and put it on YouTube:

    (Some people said it’s blasphemous so I must have done something right …

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSxeDkLbyts

  114. Avatar
    Clare Marie Frances Cheney Zimmermann January 03, 2010

    I hope they realize that it works both ways and it means no Muslim bashing – or any other nutcase ‘religion’ that comes down the pike and competes with Catholicism.

  115. Avatar
    Eric Francis January 03, 2010

    One thing i like to say often is “God is like Santa Claus, but for adults”.
    It is very unsettling this wave of non-democratic legislation that came about during the 00s in the western world.

    – From Canada

  116. Avatar
    Nicholas January 03, 2010

    Wish you success with your action. I feel sorry for you having this government, and for having to share your country with your compatriots who elected these politicians.

    FYI, the Dutch news agency (http://nos.nl/artikel/126508-ierse-actie-tegen-godslasteringwet.html) reported on your website. Following each story they list ‘related items’, and the next one is ‘Ierse bisschop treedt af na seksschandaal’ (Irish bishop resigns after sex scandal). Fortunately the second related item is more positive: ‘Ierland wint belangrijk rugbytoernooi’ (Ireland wins important rugby tournament). So not all is lost in Ireland it appears.

  117. Avatar
    Eric Mettenich January 03, 2010

    Christianity is on the decline. Just look at the figures all around the world. I guess the leaders of the Church feel duty bound to do something.

    Islam is probably on the decline too, but for the fact that any person born in an Islamic country is automatically a member of the faith… But in terms of belief I would be surprised if the trend of disbelief was not repeated in these countries also.

    Three cheers for freedom of speech.

  118. Avatar
    Mike January 03, 2010

    Intellectual honesty can give assent to a redemptive paradigm. Unfortunately its the emotional integrity that gets in the way. Until then individuals will continue to spend much time and effort (and many of you sport such a keen intellect) trying to prove the nonexistence of something (someOne) you don’t blieve in.
    Remember you can’t support a universal negative unless you have universal knowledge.

    May you have a memorable New Year,

    Mike

  119. Avatar
    Michael January 03, 2010

    I think Eric Mettenich is forgetting that while Islam does not believe in converting people TO Islam by the sword, it does believe in preventing people from converting FROM Islam by the sword. The Koran orders Muslims to kill apostates. That’s why there’s so many.

    In the US we have a double problem with blasphemy, because free speech is under constant attack from both the Right and the Left, though mostly the latter. Was that really the Green Party that supported this law? Oh, My Browser!

    Several students were suspended from Tufts University in Boston for offending Islam in their student magazine. They offended Islam by quoting the Koran!

    Finally, this page shows how hard it is to do blasphemy without being trite. A few pieces were pretty good, but this is not exactly Buñuel.

  120. Avatar
    The Clown January 03, 2010

    If the abuse of minor boys by Irisch priests for several decades does not lead to any punishment, why should an opinion do?

  121. Avatar
    David Power January 03, 2010

    I think it is beyond comprehension that the government in Ireland have nothing better to do! The church, in fact all religion in the state has had it good enough for long enough! Where does this fit in with ECOHR? If I wish to express my anti god beliefs, should I not be entitled to do so and entitled to protection frkm the state whilst doing so? The biggots and sectarians are free and encouraged to bang on about the idea they have of a god, but nobody is permitted to question this. Utter utter madness.

  122. Avatar
    Glenn January 03, 2010

    There is no god but God, and my dog’s ass is His Messenger.

  123. Avatar
    Rich Griffiths January 03, 2010

    Thank you for bringing attention to this very important issue, please keep up the good work!

  124. Avatar
    Chaim January 03, 2010

    All should condemn laws against blasphemy anywhere and everywhere.
    Freedom of Words, whatever!
    All the best from Holland. Chaim

  125. Avatar
    Mark Hall January 03, 2010

    A desperate attempt to preserve the centuries old power of superstition, fear and guilt peddled by all the so called ” great religions” The sooner the disease of religion is purged from modern society the sooner we can get about the pressing tasks facing the world.
    There is no after-life you idiots, this is our one shot at preserving the world for ourselves and future generations. The pope, cardinals,bishops, mullahs,clerics,rabbis etc are full of shit with their fable about their special friend and need to get out of humanity’s way and let the people join together to make a better world.
    Oh and for my piece of blasphemy …
    The bronze age sky god that some worship in its various forms is at best petty, malevolent and dysfunctional….at worst murderously psychotic.
    Wake up, god is a Fucking myth.

  126. Avatar
    Martyn McDonnal January 03, 2010

    What always astonishes me is that one of the main tenements of all religions is the rule that “man shalt not kill” and yet we have priests. mullahs, popes and monks blessing the soldiers for battle and calling on their god to protect them as they break their own commandments

    So I say F*ck all religions for killing in the name of

  127. Avatar
    Rico Suave January 03, 2010

    Truth needs no laws to protect it.

  128. Avatar
    De Logician January 03, 2010

    I’m an atheist too, but I’m chagrined by the ignorant spelling and bad grammar in so many of these comments. It reflects poorly on atheism when so many of its proponents are so evidently so pig-ignorant.

  129. Avatar
    Anomander January 03, 2010

    Damn, i am so lucky living in Holland.
    Here we are doing a reversal of the law just submitted in Ireland.
    if you demand respect from a person that does not believe in your god… you as well need to respect the way of thinking of the other person. How hypcrite can you get when you only listen to your own way of thinking.

  130. Avatar
    religion is the deadliest drug of all times January 03, 2010

    Just came back from a casino and I can tell ya guys that this Irish bluff (unless Jan. 1st was actually supposed to be April 1st) sucks to da bone. Could you guys publish a list with the terrorists that voted “the new Irish blasphemy law”? There are laws in US forbidding terrorists to land here (hey, not that they really work …). But I’ll gladly forward that list to the US authorities to keep the Irish monsters (I’m obviously talking ONLY about the retarded/corrupted politicians that just made a joke out of Ireland) outta this land.

    I’m a US citizen and I don’t want that garbage threatening me, my loved ones and my/our values.

    CRUSH them, Irish Atheists! NO MERCI!

    Good luck!
    Dan
    Las Vegas, NV

  131. Avatar
    Jon Davis January 03, 2010

    It seems the Ireland is still the sad, pathetic place that Frank McCourt described in “Angela’s Ashes”, where even Jesus wouldn’t want to visit. Of course, McCourt’s writing about the Roman Catholic Church were also blasphemous.

  132. Avatar
    Bernard Decock January 03, 2010

    Has your government established some kind of christian “sharia”? Your country does not have a good reputation regarding religious matters: sexual abusement by catolic clergy. Now all your folks are getting mentally abused by this “law”. May 2010 bring you Enlightenment!

    Good luck!
    A freethinker from Belgium

  133. Avatar
    kompa100 January 03, 2010

    From Holland,

    Great website. Go on with the good work.

  134. Avatar
    Kafir Harby January 03, 2010

    Well done guys, they will NOT take our freedom of speech away from us just to appease the muslims. If they feel offended, they are free to leave for their deserts.

  135. Avatar
    Marc January 03, 2010

    Typical: is this the response of the government to the rapes by priests?
    It is sad you can be prosecuted by criticizing something so debatable and questionable as religion. Even stronger, it should be criticized for some inhumane elements and its fear-based dogma that keeps people from living a good life.
    You got my support. Good luck from Holland!

  136. Avatar
    Robert January 03, 2010

    Hark! Regard these 10 questions, submitted by James M. Kauffman, Professor Emeritus, University of Virginia, to “Dr Laura”, seeking scriptural guidance:

    1. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord — Lev.1:9. The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?

    2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?

    3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness — Lev.15: 19-24. The problem is how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.

    4. Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can’t I own Canadians?

    5. I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2. The passage clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself?

    6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination – Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don’t agree. Can you settle this? Are there “degrees” of abomination?

    7. Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here?

    8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev.19:27. How should they die?

    9. I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?

    10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev. 19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? — Lev.24:10-16. Couldn’t we just burn them to death at a private family affair like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)

    I know you have studied these things extensively and thus enjoy considerable expertise in such matters, so I am confident you can help. Thank you again for reminding us that God’s word is eternal and unchanging.

  137. Avatar
    Naomi Chambers January 03, 2010

    Well done,

    This is all about Islam, and pacifist governments caring more about social cohesion that individual liberties.

    I hope you guys fight this to the highest court in your country. The United Sates, Canada, and Mexico were against UN Recommendations for Anti-Blasphemy Laws…. and I am confident our governments will support you.

  138. Avatar
    Non-religeous, Holland January 03, 2010

    You are doing a good fight, thank you. Signed, a non-religeous who has to live between believers all his life.

  139. Avatar
    Vincent Mooij January 03, 2010

    A word of unbelieve from the Netherlands about this undesirable new Irish law.
    More and more it turns out that being religious gives you more rights then others.

    With so many different religions and so many people claiming there religion to be the ‘only true religion’, is is unbelievable that there is not a firmer seperation of church and state in Europe. France is one of the few countries which is serious about this.

    I fully support your action and hope you get a lot of positive feedback!

  140. Avatar
    Ger January 03, 2010

    Thanks for doing this. It’s a clever way of drawing attention to this law.

    My only issue is with Blasphemous Quotation No 3. The Oxford English Dictionary defines “Semite” as “(member) of any of the races supposed to be descended from Shem, son of Noah, including esp. the Jews, Phoenicians, Arabs and Assyrians.”

    So, using “Semitic” just to mean “Jewish” is wrong.

  141. Avatar
    rita January 03, 2010

    I strongly believe that in an educated society there is enough room for both believers and non-believers without offending each other. There is no need to criticise or mock either. As for the Church administration it should abide by the State laws like any other administration.

  142. Avatar
    Albert van der Heijden January 03, 2010

    I believe the bible is written by the devil himself, as is stated more or less on the first page … where Eva is introduced to the fruit of wisdom … and who is the person that doesn’t want you to have knowledge … I wouldn’t say a loving god. … And to continue with placing a guard with a flaming sword to guard the gate to paradise … I am convinced the bible is written by small-minded tyrannical satan worshipers, inspired by fear.
    Getting beyond the first page means to me that reading and understanding is for different kinds of people. The kind that reads and never gets a clue, and the kind that moves on to a nicer perspective and just tosses badly written nonsense in the bin -the place where outdated materials normally end up.
    And now I have got a job to do … Bye!

  143. Avatar
    RCanning January 03, 2010

    Liam g caldwell m.u.f.c (below) seems to believe that a country (ie. an area of land) can have religious beliefs, and that those who don’t share its beliefs have no right to live in it even if they were born there. He seems to believe that people are stupid if they don’t believe in ancient Hebrew fairy tales featuring talking snakes, magic fruit, etc. He seems to think that posting the words “FECK OFF” on a website might be a useful and mature thing to do. He seems to be exactly the type of idiot that would support this absurd law, with primary school punctuation to match.

  144. Avatar
    Cif January 03, 2010

    This is ourageous and complete madness. With this law there’s no freedom of speech or religion. I don’t get why it’s being considered!
    This brings hate and even less tolerance between people of different belief!
    Again… It’s some sort of witch hunt, I’m afraid that history repeats itself…

    And all this happens in Ireland… I thought you guys were civilized people.
    But your government makes me doubt it! I’m really glad I don’t live there!

    With hope for some common sense..
    Greetings from Holland

  145. Avatar
    Lee Jenkinson January 03, 2010

    What we are witnessing in Ireland is the prolonged death throes of a superstitious philosophy that has been rendered obsolete. As Humankind learns and grows and matures, it discards those emotional crutches for which it no longer has any use.

    Perhaps if religion existed purely for spiritual and intellectual growth, it would not be suffering such universal decline, but it’s only goal is control, and because of that, people are turning away.

    Unfortunately, the closer this dinosaur gets to it’s ultimate demise, the harder it struggles to survive. Islam too is an example of a religion looking for relevance in today’s modern world and coming up empty-handed.

  146. Avatar
    FS January 03, 2010

    Lack of Faith.

    That’s what you all have.

  147. Avatar
    Lee Jenkinson January 03, 2010

    What we are witnessing in Ireland is the prolonged death throes of a superstitious philosophy that has been rendered obsolete. As Humankind learns and grows and matures, it discards those emotional crutches for which it no longer has any use.

    Perhaps if religion existed purely for spiritual and intellectual growth, it would not be suffering such universal decline, but it’s only goal is control, and because of that, people are turning away. Secular humanism manages to accomplish the same social goals as religion and does it more efficiently because there is no “third party” i.e. religion, taking it’s cut.

    Unfortunately, the closer this dinosaur gets to it’s ultimate demise, the harder it struggles to survive. Islam too is an example of a religion looking for relevance in today’s modern world and coming up empty-handed, so its adherents become that much more desperate to validate their relevance. By blowing themselves up………….

  148. Avatar
    Assad January 03, 2010

    I am not a religious fenatic but, would like to quote something I read a long time ago in a sci-fic pocket book it goes like this:

    If there was no God, it would have been necassary to create one.
    Merry Xmass & a very happy New Year to you all.!

  149. Avatar
    Crange January 03, 2010

    It would be interesting the reaction of the god fearing brigade if we were to stage a symbolic burning of religious books.

  150. Avatar
    Michael Doran January 03, 2010

    Great stuff – with insight to highlight this silly legislation – is this one of FF’s classic political tradeoff’s??? if not this, then what is this legislation doing in Ireland in ths day and age???

  151. Avatar
    Tim January 03, 2010

    Carry on! It’s not so easy on this side of the Atlantic (US) either. Happy New year.

  152. Avatar
    Graham ASH-PORTER January 03, 2010

    Blasphemy is a victimless Crime, however all Religions are all crimes with multitudes of victims, both within their ‘holy’ pages and their bloody histories of trying to gain control of the world, while spouting of supernatural rewards after death to prey on the thick, ignorant, frightened polulace and to keep them in line with threats of Hell. Keep it and grow up or else the Religionists will take us back to the Dark ages. No God = No Victim = No crime. Just a bunch of control freak Priests, Rabbis and Mullahs, trying (and suceeding) to scare you all into submission. Stand up to the superstitious claptrap.

  153. Avatar
    Ron January 03, 2010

    read on the dutch teletext about your action. great list. you have my sympathy. good luck from the netherlands.

  154. Avatar
    Modron January 03, 2010

    Hope you get al the support you need in this ,al the best in 2010

  155. Avatar
    DA January 03, 2010

    There’s something really quite funny about athiests pontificating on the subject of blasphemy.

    There are just so many logical contradictions in there – but the point is almost certainly lost on the atheists.

  156. Avatar
    JéJé January 03, 2010

    Hello!

    I’m just reading an article on a french news-website about your organization and the law voted recently.
    I think this law is not the best thing to decide, but I also think, as a protestant believer, that you CAN NOT take sentences out of their context, even if it’s about each religion. Specially to serve your atheist opinion.
    Please excuse my bad english.

  157. Avatar
    Courouve January 03, 2010

    Freedom of speech ans freedom from religion !!

  158. Avatar
    Peter Hemm January 03, 2010

    Thomas Jefferson had a few choice words about Christianity:

    “Millions of innocent men, women and children, since the introduction of Christianity, have been burnt, tortured, fined and imprisoned; yet we have not advanced one inch towards uniformity. ” 1782

    “Among the sayings and discourses imputed to him [Jesus] by his biographers, I find many passages of fine imagination, correct morality, and of the most lovely benevolence; and others again of so much ignorance, so much absurdity, so much untruth, charlatanism, and imposture, as to pronounce it impossible that such contradictions should have proceeded from the same being.” 1820

    “And the day will come when the mystical generation of Jesus, by the supreme being as his father in the womb of a virgin will be classed with the fable of the generation of Minerve in the brain of Jupiter.” 1823

  159. Avatar
    DJ Rodger January 03, 2010

    Wow even as a christian apologist I can see that this law is absolute madness!! I’ve only just heard about this new law over there…shocked to say the least.
    I apologise to you guys for having to suffer under such a stupid law.

    Sure as a Christian I take the idea of blashephy against God sereously, however what you do on this earth now is between yourselves and God after death, you shouldn’t be punished for a law that was written for the Jewish/Israelite nation over 2000 years ago. They made a covernant/promise with God a sort of contract between the nation and God..however you guys in Ireland have done no such thing!

    Sincere Apologies from a Christian.

  160. Avatar
    Marc January 03, 2010

    As a Canadian who was thinking about a trip to Ireland in the future, I will now reconsider and travel to a different place, as freedom of expression means more to me than a vacation. I think Ireland will find a drop off in tourism and have a blow to their economy because of people staying away on principal. Luckily you are still allowed to criticize government, but you better hurry because soon a law like this is a slippery slope that leads to total fascism.

  161. Avatar
    Jeffrey Peel January 03, 2010

    Best of luck with the campaign and greetings from a fellow Atheist in Northern Ireland.

  162. Avatar
    pookawoowoo January 03, 2010

    Another stupid move by a stupid government.

  163. Avatar
    James January 03, 2010

    Hi folks – As a Christian I find your website interesting. Interesting on why you actively put down the Bible and Christianity, and other religions. To me this opposition makes your cause of Atheism a religion in itself. Why don’t you just not bother. After all if there’s nothing to it why not just let the Christians believe their own stories.

    As a Christian the code I live my life by is found in the Bible. I believe there is something more to the few years we have on this planet. While I’m here I’ll try to help others, do some good and if anyone wants to find out from me what gives my life purpose and contentment then I’ll tell them about my FAITH.

    I think many Christians have doubts from time to time however like the other night when out walking I saw the moon – what good luck for us that it reflects the sun’s light to give us light at night – just one small example of the Creator’s design.

    Of course if I’m wrong and there’s no heaven for me on the other side of death it won’t matter I’ve lived a full and happy life here, however if you folk find out your were wrong……..!

    Religion of any type has much to answer for in history – WE DON”T NEED RELIGION WE NEED THE LOVE OF GOD as Brian Houston sings

    If you believe what you believe enough to be on this site then I won’t change your mind as you won’t I, however I do wish you a happy new year in AD2010.

  164. Avatar
    jeumlache January 03, 2010

    Go on comrades

    Theugglyest sons of France , (oldest daughter of Catholic Church!), are with you

  165. Avatar
    Agni January 03, 2010

    Great work. I support you. Many thanks for publish this quotations.

  166. Avatar
    Freelance jobs January 03, 2010

    Sound’s like the religious are still trying to control everyone, and degrade those that don’t happen to believe the same things they do.

    Silly, all of it really. God is between you and Him, that’s all.

  167. Avatar
    Bob January 03, 2010

    This law is complete joke and completely hypocritical, i think the christians are not getting the point. The point, as i see it is not that people want the ability to insult religious people, but the right to free speech, if i want to talk about a cosmic Jew who was his own father by a virgin that can enable you to live forever if you ‘symbolically’ eat his flesh, drink his blood and telepathically tell him you accept him as your master, so that he can remove an evil force from something invisible called your soul that is present because a woman made from a rib was convinced by a talking snake to eat an apple from a magical tree, i don’t want to be fined for causing some poor soul “outrage”.

    I don’t think anyone should be belittled for beliefs, but neither should we incentivise said outrage.

  168. Avatar
    Anthony Galvin January 04, 2010

    Keep up the good work. The power of religion and delusion needs to be broken. It offends me to be asked to swear on a bible in a court, to endure grace before meals at functions, to hear the angulus on a tv station I am paying for through my licence fees.
    These new blasphemy laws are the latest outrage. As a performer I am going to create a routine which blasphemes the major religions and perform it until I am prosecuted or the law is struck off.
    Anthony Galvin.

  169. Avatar
    Saganhill January 04, 2010

    I find it very comical that christians say they prefer to live their life with a god rather than a life without–just in case they are wrong. Living life with a made up being that doesnt exist is not only silly but proves how fear, and abandonment play in your life.

    As far a the Irish government passing this law…it goes without saying the the law benifits no one and will be impossible to enforce. In fact I plan on visiting that country wearing one of my special T-shirts blaring one of these quotes.

  170. Avatar
    simsisgod January 04, 2010

    Jesus

  171. Avatar
    Scott in Philly January 04, 2010

    Check out the church of the flying spaghetti monster (FSM), for those who’ve never heard of it… Become a fan on Facebook…

  172. Avatar
    Mark Kane January 04, 2010

    I posted a link to this article on my Facebook page in the interests of free speech and was promptly “de-friended” by two people (and counting)!

    I respect everyone’s right to believe in whatever they want and to express it.
    It was interesting to see those who cannot accept any alternative view to their own. Superstition and paranoia about what ‘others’ think is the great control
    that religion exercises.

    As for the quotes, George Carlin (Quote 15) sums the hypocrisy up beautifully.

  173. Avatar
    Arnold J. Rimmer January 04, 2010

    Greetings from Sweden!
    I just want to say that I fully support what you are doing.
    Keep up the great work!

    Cheers

  174. Avatar
    bogsidebunny January 04, 2010

    Having had my boots on the Hibernian ground for more decades that I’d care to remember I’ve learnt that the Irish are thoughtless reactionaries par none.

    Some one comes up with an idea, no matter how idiotic and the Irish will campaign.

    Example:

    There has been a surge of assaults with knives in Ireland over the past few years.

    A politician actually propossed that in the future ALL knives sold in Ireland be manufactured with “rounded tips” in order to make them less likely to penetrate.

    FACT:

    1) Irish motor vehicle laws have no provision to madate the holder of a driver’s licence to notify the authorities when they change address.

    2) It’s estimated 60% of Irish driver’s locence holders have the INCORRECT address on their current, valid licence.

    3) Traffic tickets are not issued “on the spot”. The Garda takes the driver’s info from the licence and a “summons” is mailed (posted). 60% of these summonses are not received.

    4) If the traffic law offender is ever brought before a judge (very unlikely) he or she just testifies they never received the summons and the judge dismisses the charges.

    FACT:

    Ikea built a store in Dublin just off the M-50 motorway. It was completed and ready to open at the end of 2007. The Irish failed to provide an access road to the Ikea store for another 10–months. The store sat idle for almost a year because the Irish government has absolutely no grasp of reality. And if the people who elect these morons keep electing them then their must be a connection with the populace and the passing of idiotic laws like the blasphemey law.

    How do you utter “DUH” in Irish?

  175. Avatar
    tlamer January 04, 2010

    Hi from Slovakia!
    Fight for your free speech. I’m with you.

  176. Avatar
    Dr. O. P. Sudrania January 04, 2010

    The word “Law” in itself is not a well defined entity as it is invoked by the ruling class as it suits them. So the word “Law” is a matter of “Interpretation” only and as you invoke it. Same way, word “blaspheme” to one may be obnoxious and repellent; whereas it may be just the opposite to others. Who is going to decide? Difficult to find the arbitrator. That is the indomitable cause of needless fight world over; because of the combination of “High intelligence with the low desires”.

    Dr. O. P. Sudrania

  177. Avatar
    harmen January 04, 2010

    The god of this world is mamon (money),
    To obtain money, power is aquired.
    To gain a lot of power you’re gonna need of lot of people backing you up.
    Here’s where religion comes in.
    Fear money not religion.
    Personal opinion: Atheist people are the most religeous people i met so far, no offense

  178. Avatar
    Sasha Pyle January 04, 2010

    God is Nature, which we blaspheme around the clock by our misguided actions. No matter what you believe, you have a right to your beliefs until they threaten others. Atheists pose no threat to anyone but the fearful and credulous. Keep on truckin’, Irish blasphemers.

  179. Avatar
    Angela January 04, 2010

    gods be damned! I am having a hard time understanding how a law like this can be passed in this day and age, knowing all that we know now. Are we going through another dark age? Keep up the good fight and thanks for helping to raise consciousness about equal rights for non-believers, the importance of freedom of speech and the dire need for separation of church and state.

    -Angela
    Florida, USA

  180. Avatar
    neal January 04, 2010

    ‘O stony grey soil’

    O stony grey soil of religion

    The laugh from my love you thieved

    You took the gay child of my passion

    And gave me your lies conceived

    You clogged the feet of my boyhood

    And I believed that my stumble

    Had the poise and stride of Apollo

    And his voice my thick tongued mumble

    You told me that God was immortal!

    O mean life-conquering God!

    The untruths stained, your dogma blunted

    I defy your attempts to defraud

    You sang on steaming dunghills

    A song of cowards’ brood,

    You perfumed my clothes with incense

    You banned me from swinish food

    You flung a ditch on my vision

    Of beauty, love and truth.

    O stony grey soil of religion

    You burgled my bank of youth!

    Lost the long hours of pleasure

    All the women that love young men

    O can I still stroke good reason’s back

    Or write with unpoisoned pen

    Truth’s name in these lonely verses

    Or mention the dark fields where

    The first gay flight of my lyric

    Got caught in a peasant’s prayer

    In Islam, the Christians and Jews

    Wherever I turn I see

    In the stony grey soil of religion

    Dead loves that were born for me

  181. Avatar
    Tatiana Covington January 04, 2010

    Tell them to shove their fucking laws up their god-crazed asses. Break them too, while you’re at it!

  182. Avatar
    Magar January 04, 2010

    My full support from Italy, fellow atheists!
    This law is a shame for the whole Europe.

  183. Avatar
    Damien January 05, 2010

    Why do you use an outdated version of the Bible? If you wanted more historical accuracy, you would use the original Greek text in which it was written. If you wanted readers to be able to understand the closest translation with modern English, you would use modern English. But you use the Old English of the King James Bible from hundreds of years ago!?!?
    Is this a political statement about your imperial loyalties?

  184. Avatar
    Bealzabubba January 05, 2010

    “After all if there’s nothing to it why not just let the Christians believe their own stories” -James

    My dear James…we are more than happy to let the Christianists & the Islamists (same shit, different pile)believe their own little stories. The problem is is that they are determined to force ALL of us believe their little stories as well, and as history clearly shows, they are not beyond killing people to do it.

  185. Avatar
    Jack January 05, 2010

    Recipe to Screw the Irish Government:

    (1) Start with one fresh Lisbon “Treaty” (Yes, that’s right, their own laws!);

    (2) Add a large portion of the Primacy Clause wherein the new EU Federal State is given primacy over the Irish Constitution by the Lisbon Treaty (Articles 1 and 47 Treaty on European Union– TEU – as amended by the Lisbon Treaty; Declaration 17A concerning Primacy);

    (3) Add an equal portion of Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which provides a right to freedom of expression across the 47 nations of the Council of Europe, including Ireland, and which the state is obliged to protect;

    (4) Add a pinch of disgruntled native Irish men and women;

    (5) Stir with the fact that the legally binding Articles arising from the European Convention on Human Rights in a post-Lisbon 2 Treaty Ireland are in fact, binding upon Ireland, since Ireland is now just a “member state” in a greater United States of Europe;

    (6) Gently form a short, coherent grievance statement for the upcoming legal complaint against the Irish government as such: “Blasphemy laws silence people in order to protect ideas and thusly are inherently unjust rendering them a violation of human rights” (Of course, adjust wording to taste);

    (7) Cook up a coalition, if possible, to muster as many dissidents as possible (It is noteworthy that anyone, including Muslims, can be fined under the law if they simply deny Jesus is the Messiah-which indeed, they must do if they are devout Muslims. Of course, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Atheists, Witches, Satanists, Animists, etc., could all be terribly persecuted by this “Blasphemy Law” );

    (8) Simmer until the mixture bubbles;

    (9) Serve up multiple portions as needed in order to tie up (and screw) the Irish government for the next generation or two.

    Now that’s a recipe. Don’t you love it? The Irish government screwed itself by pushing the Lisbon 2 “Treaty” and perhaps now the “Treaty”, among other things, can be used to screw the government with endless legal entanglements!

    Bon Appetit!

    http://blog.antilisbontreaty.com/2010/01/03/a-legal-flaw-in-the-irish-blasphemy-law.aspx

  186. Avatar
    JohnL January 05, 2010

    I find the last quote the most disturbing – when the Justice Minister thinks he’s God (or at least sacred), you are indeed on the slippery slope to fascism.

    It will be interesting to see if Mr Ahern feels obliged to prosecute your site in respect of your blasphemous statements about the great man Himself.

  187. Avatar
    Sancho January 05, 2010

    Well done on opposing this absurd law. Our happy-clappy politicians in Australia will be watching with interest to see if they can lumber us with something similar.

    Like many previous posters, I’m not an atheist, but atheism is moving us closer to the truth (or lack thereof) of the supernatural than religion ever will

  188. Avatar
    Los Peros Anderos January 05, 2010

    Oh my fucking God…xD

  189. Avatar
    John January 05, 2010

    Well done Michael. What a ridiculous distraction Ahern has served up. I see they’ve called you a crackpot. Who are these people kidding?

    Gilbert O’Sullivan: But as if to knock me down,
    Reality came around
    And without so much as a mere touch,
    Cut me into little pieces
    Leaving me to doubt,
    All about God and His mercy
    For if He really does exist
    Why did He desert me
    In my hour of need? I truly am indeed,
    Alone again, naturally

    @the m.u.f.c. chap: When Bohemian FC fans call Kevin Hunt ‘God’, should Dermot Ahern and/or the FAI fine them?

  190. Avatar
    o0OAthiestO0o January 05, 2010

    I guess that leaves the scientology cult, er, organization out of Ireland though. They love to sling the insults. It would be priceless to see some of them prosecuted by this new law. Otherwise, this law promotes a very dangerous premise. Given Dermot Ahern’s statement above, if taken the right way, may have you all imprisoned for speaking out against your government. Let’s all hope that this isn’t what was implied. (He’s as pure as baby jesus……… JESUS FUCKING CHRIST ON A POGO STICK)

  191. Avatar
    Mike R January 05, 2010

    Great list to start off with. Good luck fighting this ugly law and the creeping destruction of our most precious rights. We freethinkers and non-theist citizens of U.S. support you.

    It saddens me to think that in 2010, we still have to fight this medieval monstrosity.

  192. Avatar
    Andrew January 06, 2010

    Those quotes simply aren’t bad enough to inspire the result you want.

    How about something like jesus and mohummad were gay lovers who regularly molested goats at he behest of satan???

    Come and get me!!!!

  193. Avatar
    dye January 06, 2010

    Freedom of speech is the basic rule to freedom of thought. I understand that religious people wish to worship their belief, but why should they impose silence to others?
    The idea in blasphemy is that you do it against your own belief. If you dont believe in it, its not a basphem.
    As for having a United Nation rule over this, please help promote http://www.secularnations.org
    This organization promotes balanced ideas to nations rulers and to United Nations.
    Thanks.

  194. Avatar
    Twiggy January 06, 2010

    What the hell inspired Dermot Ahern to re-read the constitution and of all things to decide on changing, choose something as out dated as blasphemy!?!

    Anyway, I wrote a blog about it and used the 25 quotes in it, so hopefully that’ll help a bit 🙂
    Darah

    darahcn.wordpress.com

  195. Avatar
    Trappey January 07, 2010

    Keep up the good work! Sad to see your government fall like this. The Norwegian government tried something similar last year – but the opposition was so strong they had to think again.

    Greetings from Norway

  196. Avatar
    Moskus January 07, 2010

    Great stuff! Here in Norway, the government tried sneaking the blasphemy-law in the back door last year, by trying to incorporate it into the laws against racist hate-speech, and they did so to try to appease the moslems (after the cartoon-trouble). Thank god (lol) they didn`t succeed. The last time I checked, religion had no colour. I am colourblind, but not stupid-blind, and I shall reserve the right to bash any ridicolous superstition I see fit. Amen. Keep up the good work!

  197. Avatar
    Davy January 11, 2010

    I am very disappointed with this attempt to provoke a response / prosecution. A few of the quotes started to hit the sensitivities of religious extremists, but never followed through – quotes are too short antway. The fact that were all written prior to 2010 negates their value anyway. There is just no way that the 25 quotation will ever provoke the desired response.

    What is needed is robust tirade against the daftness of religion, written and published in 2010. Personally (and for obvious reasons) I would confine my tirade to christianity and judeanism. Most of the tirade would have to be justifiable by the use of logic and some choice scriptural quotations.

  198. Avatar
    Linda McManus January 11, 2010

    Thank you!

    An atheist in California.

  199. Avatar
    al brownlee January 11, 2010

    Keep up the good work, guys. Props and best wishes from an English godless heathen.

  200. Avatar
    Benny Thomsen January 12, 2010

    keep up the “god” works, greetings from Denmark

  201. Avatar
    van Steike January 12, 2010

    I think
    therefore I am
    an atheist

  202. Avatar
    Fria Tankar January 15, 2010

    Keep ut the good work. The whole idea to label you as a criminal if you criticize a certain part, a interpretation or a whole religion as such is ridiculous. This is a form of self-censorship leading to that extreme religious views and traditions have attained legitimacy and a free pass into Ireland and possibly later to the whole secularized western world. You should always be allowed to criticize and satirize all forms of establishments, especially those associated with power, and thus religion as well. Let’s all criticize the law against criticism. The threats of violence (and economical consequences) from certain religious groups should not scare us into silence and obedience, we are are still thinking humans – let us remain that way.

    Greetings from Sweden!

  203. Avatar
    Anthony January 16, 2010

    Freedom of speech is more sacred than the right to not being ridiculed for believing in Santa Claus. Keep the good work and fight for reclaiming the democracy in Ireland.

  204. Avatar
    Frank January 17, 2010

    Nice list! Keep up the fight!

    Filipino Freethinker

  205. Avatar
    Angel February 03, 2010

    LOL @ Björk

  206. Avatar
    J. Mahmutovic February 12, 2010

    I am by no means a devout follower of religion, though I strongly believe there to be some truth to it. I will, however, not discuss in detail how Romans were killing off Christians, of which many in their arenas for their own twisted pleasure and to appease their polytheistic pantheon, for quite some time before deciding that they needed to stop… nor will go in depth ob how that same Roman elite founded the Vatican to keep themselves in power, even if Jesus Christ, peace be upon him, hath never set foot in Rome. Ofcourse this was just a plot to keep the power focused on Rome. Reality is not without a sense of irony, because those who refused to let the old ways go were now in power and are responsible for much of the apathy which the Vatican has earned over the centuries. I would like to propose a similar scenario to all the Abrahamic religions. Have you ever heard of the Lucis Trust? Used to be known as the Lucifer trust, no less, and is one of those official partners of the United Nations. Hey! Perhaps they’re just atheists or something, don’t look at me, look it up Well now, I for one fear that this anti-blasphemy law is going to be used falsely in a time when the Muslims are targetted a lot for this other upcoming event. Yes, this Lucifer Trust thing, you must check it out, because soon a new age of spirituality is upon us which will unite all the religions. If you’ve seen Lord of the Rings then the phrase “one ring to rule them all” hits the spot. The sun is coming back. Yes the sun. Surely you educated people hae heard of him. Why he is also on the American dollar bill.. his eye radiates oh so sinistrally from above that pyramid, which could (more like SHOULD) make you wonder what a pyramid is doing on an American bill. Well, that would be the “All-Seeing Eye” or “the Eye of Horus”. Should you not yet know: Horus is a “deity” in the Egyptian pantheon, he is associated with the sun and has but one eye. Odin, all-father of the Norse pantheon, is strangely depicted as having one-eye also. Ah yes, polytheism again… where have we heard that before? Indeed, the Romans. Yes, those good old Romans who kept their power centralized in Rome. They never really became Gods chosen, wouldn’t you say? I mean all those other Christian religions were more or less the result of Roman dictatorship. Mannnn.. Nero Caesar sure tried hard to slaughter all those misguided monotheists. Oh yeah, the white House is kind of like a Roman structure. They could have just as well built a pyramid instead, well apart from that eye ofcourse, we’re waiting for the eye. And why do the royal European families (along with the extremely rich families of ourd world) enbalm themselves like the the pharaohs of old when they claim to be Christians? Wasn’t there a mention of an one-eyed entity in monotheistic religions somewhere? What could it all mean? Surely there is a rational explanation for all this and who better than you people to give it to me. For what it’s worth, I understand that your action is a good way to bring attention to your cause, but why not put a little explanation to ratify the quotations even if it’s for the sake of being, well I don’t know.. you people fancy yourselves civilized, right? Perhaps even more so than the next non-Atheist? In any case, I do want to wish you luck, not for the sake of being able to insult others who you perhaps deem lower, but more so whom you look upon superiorly, basking in your, what should I call it? Emancipation? haha 🙂 Yea, but from what I’ve just tried to epxlain briefly. Should all this not make sense to you then it is even more suggested that you start studying the world. A good place to start would be: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhZk8ronces I mean, if he is not a humanist then I don’t know who is.

  207. Avatar
    Mark February 16, 2010

    I am not an athiest but I believe 100% that everyone must be allowed to criticize about anything and that is the Freedom of Expression. The reason that I am not in control of my own breath which gives me life is the reason why I am not an athiest.

  208. Avatar
    Andrew February 16, 2010

    Guys, folks, humanity, we are all trapped in this little oasis and we have nowhere to run, to nowhere to turn. we are actually descendants of pigs and snakes. We behave like so so intolerant. Regardless of our religiosity, so arrogant and hateful. We have ruined our neighbourhood with violence and greed. Hey, you atheists being so smart and intelligent, why can’t you invent a cure, an inoculation, a jab to cure stupidity, greed. Or why don’t you invent another planet? Whether you believe in God or not we are trapped in this planet and we have to live with intolerant greedy corrupt silly neighbours. There is no way out by ourselves. Looking at the cosmos we are at the mercy of immense forces which we can only but dimly understand. we are a sorry race!

  209. Avatar
    bobby March 09, 2010

    Does everyone feel better now that all the venting is finished? What is the verdict? And absolutely no way for anyone to answer an argument…how convenient.

  210. Avatar
    df March 16, 2010

    As I understand the issues, I support repeal of the blasphemy law. And I say that as a devout Roman Catholic (and fan of Monty Python’s Life of Brian) because I consider free speech so important (I came to this site via a link from http://www.volokh.com ).

    I may find the manner in which certain people refer to my or another religion objectionable, but my objections should not have the force of law (except for prohibitions on e.g. “kill all the [whatever]” incitements to riot or other violence).

    While supporting in principle, I do have to agree with some other posters, some of the “blasphemous” quotations above don’t seem all that blasphemous, more a matter of disagreement.

  211. Avatar
    Loose-Id March 18, 2010

    I am a yank atheist of Irish descent. While my government is supposed to be secular and separation of church and state articulated as an absolute by USA forefathers you’d have to be living in a cave not to be aware of the amount of political power American xtians have and their use of that power in an effort to force their mythical, superstitious beliefs and dogma upon all citizens under the credo of “America-A Christian Nation”. I often believe we are only days away from said religious idiots legislating similar blasphemy laws here in the USA. I make an effort to blaspheme daily; denying the holy spirit is something I articulate at every opportunity. To my fellow atheists in Ireland I offer my support and hope that this ridiculous legislation be repealled. Resist and blaspheme!! They don’t call us the fighting Irish for nothing!!!

  212. Avatar
    Donald O'Treply April 28, 2010

    I guess that the original quotes were chosen because they were exactly the sort of thing this law was targeting. That they do not appear so terribly blasphemous is yet another point which is worth making. Just what are we allowed to say?

    But you know what they say about a bad law – the only way to get it changed is to break it.

  213. Avatar
    Matt November 17, 2010

    Keep the faith! Preach it! You are just as religious as anyone else. Your own little brand of certainty in a mysterious universe. Who’s deluded?

  214. Avatar
    nozzferrahhtoo November 18, 2010

    So a political opinion on a bad law is religious now is it? By that definition very little things are not religion I guess. Thankfully no one uses your definition.

  215. Avatar
    Peter Mc Kenna December 23, 2010

    So barmy Berty has pushed this egregious piece of free speech strangling through the legislature.
    Is this the last squeak from that atrophied institution of ignorance the catholic church?
    Does that mean if I refer to Islam as a death cult invented by an illiterate murdering desert
    barbarian;I’m guilty of a criminal act?
    The evidence for that last statement is overwhelming(ie demonstrable fact)
    This is Orwellian fascism pure and simple.
    It would indicate that bouncing Bertie was too mentally unstable to carry out his Taisoch duties.

  216. Avatar
    RGBS February 03, 2011

    That’s Great; Muhammad, Benedict, and a Cardinal all had blasphemous statements to share. That is awesome. My favorite, though, and there’s even a YouTube video on my “favorites” list, is the George Carlin one. That one is the best of these, in my opinion. I hope that law gets removed. As a mostly-Irish Nontheist Libertarian who lives in America, I wish you all good luck.

    PS, 25000 euros is equal to 33000 dollars. That is still too much money for merely speaking one’s mind. I looked on an Irish blog and apparently the Party Fine Gael is the Irish equivalent to America’s Libertarian Party.

    ~KP~

  217. Avatar
    Eric September 26, 2011

    What a better life it would be if we put just a little more attention and focus into THIS world!

  218. Avatar
    Aidan pidgeon January 04, 2012

    I pray for all in this work,atheists and many more who don’t, as for your ideas that God does not excist I feel sooty for but there are many more out there with this sad idea.
    We have 250 incorrupt people of God, miracles of the Eucharist, we have Our Lady appearing to so many, saints and even in Medjugorje, incorrupibilty is one of these miracles, so many saints, servant of God and Blessed people their bodies never decayed saint paula Frassinetti is a great example died 1882 exhumed 1906 and is still incorrupt the truth is there to seen and can be found, you say alot bout the Virgin Mary especially about the part of her virginity and how she concived Jesus Christ, with the holy Spirit and God anything is possible and thus is prove, we as I say have prove and it’s out there the unbelievers need to see it, if you don’t want too believe I feel sad and sorry, life with God and Our Lady is nothing, I can go on and will, life after death will happen and when it does you will be sorry you never gave God and Our Lady a chance, God love you and may God Bless you for why and what you feel is right truth is that it’s not right.

  219. Avatar
    Frank L. Ludwig February 12, 2012

    I find Frank Zappa’s chimpanzee quote particularly offensive because he claims religion is the chimpanzee part of our brain working. I have never seen a chimpanzee who believes in any gods – they’re just too smart!

  220. Avatar
    Billy Patterson March 20, 2012

    THE ATHEIST

    “You don’t believe in God” ! he said and sadly gripped my hand
    But don’t you know that if you don’t your soul’s forever damned.
    You’ll burn in Hell when your time comes, your screams will rend the air
    You’ll join the ranks of heretics who live forever there.

    You believe in things that are, the sea, the air, the sky
    You say that’s all there is to life, and in the end we die.
    You don’t believe in miracles and chariots of fire
    In angels and in demons or retribution dire.

    How can you not believe in Saints who answer to our prayer
    While God with Holy Mary and the angels really care
    It’s only non-believers who suffer at God’s hands
    And blasphemous religions that thrive in foreign lands.

    They worship idols, totem poles and gods they make by hand
    Poor misguided people, but we travel to their land to make them see
    That we are right and they are wrong, we preach in sun and showers
    We teach them hymns and let them know there is but one God – ours.”

    Breathe on me breath of God, but why does divine breath
    Bring wars and famine, plagues, eruptions, tidal waves and death
    I have to believe and we’re told of course that we are sinful man
    And all of this destruction is a part of God’s great plan.

    A plan for what I ask myself, to benefit us all?
    A plan to make us suffer, a plan to make us crawl?
    If you believe you’ll go to heaven and have your cheek there kiss’d
    Then carry on, but I prefer to be an atheist.

  221. Avatar
    wlb October 09, 2012

    So you hide behind others quotating what _they_ said?
    Never in history of mankind so many people had so unobstructed access to so much knowledge and have had so much freedom granted. Refering to a god’s laws instead of having the guts to stand for your decissions by yourself is right away a shame.
    There is hardly any piece of knowledge that has not been persecuted at it’s time as “blasphemy”, be it medicine, astrology, even common human rights.
    Every man, every woman in modern Europe is granted the right to vote and with that influence the lives of others.
    Those who can not say “I may be wrong, but this is my judgement – and if I am wrong it will be my responsability” but hide behind a “god’s will and law” have no room in modern democratic society of Europe. And as long as this law is not abolished there is no place for Ireland in Europe!
    Shame!