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An anonymous reader writes "Another European country clamps down on free speech. From the article: 'It does seem bizarre that, in 2009, a modern European nation would seek to shield religious belief from criticism — yet that is what is happening in Ireland right now. In repealing the 1961 Defamation Act, the Irish government sought to expunge the worst excesses of Ireland's draconian laws restricting free speech, but in the process it has ended up making [0]offending religious belief a criminal offence. Aside from a 25,000 fine (reduced from the 100,000 originally sought by the government), the new Defamation Act gives the authorities the power to stage raids on publishers: the courts may now issue a warrant authorising the police to enter, using "reasonable force," premises where they have grounds for believing there are copies of "blasphemous statements."
Forgive me for suggesting that America is not the only country in the grips of a religious hysteria lately. Even Dawkins commented in his popular series :
"The Root of all evil"
"The 21st century should be an age of reason, yet irrational militant faith is back on the march. Religious extremism is implicated in the world’s most bitter and unending conflicts. In Britain, even as we live in the shadow of holy terror, our government wants to restrict our freedom to criticise religion. Science we are told should not tread on the toes of theology. But why should scientists tiptoe respectfully away? The time has come for people of reason to say, enough is enough. Religious faith discourages independent thought: it’s divisive and it’s dangerous. Isn’t this the beginning of that slippery slope that leads to young men with rucksack bombs on the tube?" --- Richard Dawkins
I would suggest you not blaspheme if you're in Ireland.
Ahhh yes, a dream come true, "if only" here in America, huh, kd? A sort of modern-day Spanish Inquisition? (BTW, when are you moving there? You could gleefully join up with The People's Anti-Blasphemy Goon Squad", going door to door, pounding at midnight to drag the likes of me into the street for a good old public stoning?).
I strongly recommend you all rent and watch Goya's Ghost, a 2006 film done outstandingly by director Milos Forman (One Flew Over The Cukoo's Nest), and starring the very watchable Natalie Portman as well as Stellan Skarsgård (he's been in a number of excellent films incl. Ronan, Pirattes of the Caribbean, and others).
It's a realistic look at the favorite of many Christians, the big Spanish "I", which so many modern Christians would love to partake of, hanging the likes of me from the rafters until I ""repent".
(To that point, I particularly like where Natalie Portman's father hangs the unrelentling priest (who imprisoned her after "extracting" a confession, and then who rapes her repeatedly in the prison...) from the rafters until he "confesses" to various sins.)
Last edited by rifleman; 07-21-2009 at 12:03 PM..
Reason: typoz, clarifications, opinions, etc.
Ahhh yes, a dream come true, "if only" here in America, huh, kd?
No..not really. That's why I hate the idea of sharia law. I'd rather the government just stay out of it, because they usually screw up whatever they do. l
No..not really. That's why I hate the idea of sharia law. I'd rather the government just stay out of it, because they usually screw up whatever they do. l
Isn't that what you religious people ultimately want though? To integrate religion and government? Isn't that the reason you guys get upset every time a court has to order a municipal building to take down their copy of the ten commandments?
It seems to me Ireland needs to pass laws to protect their children from the church and encourage the public to open up on the crimes committed by the RCC.
It sounds like the last stand of the Catholics who have headed up the cover-up for the last 40 years. I don’t think it will work this time.
Isn't that what you religious people ultimately want though? To integrate religion and government? Isn't that the reason you guys get upset every time a court has to order a municipal building to take down their copy of the ten commandments?
no. I'm not suggesting we plaster monuments everywhere...but I do think there is room for a tasteful monument where culturally applicable.
And I'm not suggesting we should be run by a theocracy. You can't legislate belief.
And I'm not suggesting we should be run by a theocracy. You can't legislate belief.
If only others could see that it would be a much better world. I don't understand why the religious zealots in this country can't look at a place like Iran as an example of what happens when religion dictates public policy. It confuses me why they denounce places like that yet in essence want the same thing here.
I can't believe that something like this would be going on in the 21st century. Is this article on the up and up? I mean this sounds like a lot, besides, this is how revolutions and civil wars start. I can't imagine a country pressing their luck with that in this day and age...
What exactly is considered blasphemous these days anyway?
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....and heeerssss the Inquisition!
