Writing for Asharq Alawsat, Amir Taheri reviews an interesting looking book that explores the contours of blasphemy laws and where they collide with the concept of free speech. The book argues that the complaints about ‘lack of respect’ or calls for enforcement of blasphemy laws actually inverts the idea of ‘respect’. Respect only exists as a reciprocal social agreement, with both sides respecting the opinions of others. It does not guarantee against hurt feelings or a sense of being offended.

I’ve not read the book, but based on the review, it looks to be one worth reading.

The concept of the sacred in modern times
Amir Taheri

The Future of Blasphemy: Speaking of the Sacred in an Age of Human Rights By: Austin Dacey, 208 pages, $15, Continuum, 2012

After decades of being regarded an obscure, if not discarded, concept, blasphemy has made a spectacular comeback as a hot issue with international dimensions. Efforts to criminalise blasphemy are well advanced in the United Nations with talks of an international treaty. The Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) and the Vatican have become objective partners in lobbying for such a treaty.

In its convoluted style, the European Court of Human Rights has endorsed the concept.

In recent years, blasphemy has also been at the centre of court cases in France based on lawsuits brought by Catholic and Muslim clerics.

But what does constitute blasphemy?


January:30:2012 - 09:16 | Comments & Trackbacks (3) | Permalink
3 Responses to “Respect Not a Tool of Blasphemy Laws”
  1. 1
    Sparky Said:
    January:30:2012 - 12:25 

    I read an article a few days ago combining Pope Talk with Sheik Talk waring against too much information overload. I’ve tried to regoogle it and can’t find it. The overall message of the article specifically illustrated the current pope’s and current mufti’s and their general opinions which were believe it or not not opposing each other. The religious icons seem to be perturbed or perhaps they view as an afront to their beliefs the amount of opinions out there and people just talking whatever they feel like. In general terms their message was “don’t believe everything/ info. overload/ beware etc.,”

    All of this worry deep seated in the human psyche s asilly as it may seem reminds me of Carnegie in the film “The Book of Eli” who tries to get the “book” from Denzel (Eli) which happens to be a bible. There is a mad chase over who will control the book because whoever controlled the book essentially could control the people. The ending of the movie hmmm I’m still wondering whether or not it was “politically correct”. What leaves me wondering is that the book was sent to the printing press in Alcatraz after having been memorized then put into brail.

    It does look like a great book. Perhaps instead of filing it in a major library it should be sent as a religious holiday gift to all the major religious heads.

  2. 2
    Amel Said:
    January:31:2012 - 18:37 

    It amazes me that instead of moving forward in this world, we have religious fanatics trying to set us back with unproven beliefs. It has been proven time after time again that there is no God. There is no Allah. Religion has been created due to the lack of Science knowledge thru out the world for generations. There is no Adam an Eve. Eve could not have been created from the ribs of Adam, The world could not have been created in 7 days. Christ could not have flown to heaven and Mohammed was a crazy guy who thought was the Messiah and yet was a killer and produce a koran encouraging to lie to enemies and to kill anybody who is an Infidel. It is time to teach the truth to the world that the religions of the worlds have been created with military victories and no God or Angels are real. Democracy should prevail but this fanatics just want to keep everybody from speaking the truth or anything that is against their crazy beliefs.

  3. 3
    Andrew Said:
    February:01:2012 - 14:00 

    Let us not veer into the subject of religion in this manner.

    It is not true that proof exists that there is no God.

    Similarly, it is not true that proof exists that God exists.

    Philosophical concepts are generally not subject to proof or disproof. Accordingly, such proof may be not relevant.

    No proof exists of beauty, or integrity, or many other enduring values.

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