Should it be illegal to profane a religion?

[McCulloch]

Should it be illegal to publicly criticize religion in general or a specific religion? Should blasphemy¹ be a criminal matter? How does the protection of free speech fit in? Is such criticism automatically count as hate speech²? How does one draw the line between legitimate criticism and inciting hate? Should parody, mocking and making light of religions or a religion be restricted?

_________________
¹ Blasphemy is irreverence toward holy personages, religious artifacts, customs, and beliefs.
² In law, hate speech is any speech, gesture or conduct, writing, or display which is forbidden because it may incite violence or prejudicial action against or by a protected individual or group, or because it disparages or intimidates a protected individual or group. The law may identify a protected individual or a protected group by race, gender, ethnicity, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, or other characteristic.

[Lux]

Should it be illegal to publicly criticize religion in general or a specific religion?

Hell no. Freedom of speech is a basic right.

Should blasphemy¹ be a criminal matter? How does the protection of free speech fit in?

Let's just bring the Inquisition back.
It's funny (and very hypocritical) how some religious people and organizations feel free to openly criticize and condemn atheists, agnostics and members of other religions, but if someone dares contradict their scriptures... it's blasphemy and hate speech.

Is such criticism automatically count as hate speech²?

No. There's a huge difference between criticism and hate speech. I realize religion is a touchy subject, but criticism is necessary for the advancement of human kind. If we never questioned anything, where would humanity be?

How does one draw the line between legitimate criticism and inciting hate?

As far as I've seen, it's almost always possible to determine what the intended message was. If the intention was to propagate hate or violence against a certain group(s), it is usually quite obviously stated.

Should parody, mocking and making light of religions or a religion be restricted?

Well, not by law, because that would be against freedom of speech, but I do think that we should refrain ourselves from mocking other's beliefs (and this goes for atheists making fun of the religious, religious folks making fun of atheists, and religions making fun of other religions) out of civility.

[McCulloch]

Should it be illegal to publicly criticize religion in general or a specific religion?

Hell no. Freedom of speech is a basic right.

Yeah, that's what I thought.

Should blasphemy¹ be a criminal matter? How does the protection of free speech fit in?

Let's just bring the Inquisition back.

No one expects the Spanish Inquisition.

Is such criticism automatically count as hate speech²?

No. There's a huge difference between criticism and hate speech.

[sarcasm]It is criticism when I point out the obvious flaws in your way of thinking. It is hate speech when you attack my deeply held religious views. [/sarcasm]

How does one draw the line between legitimate criticism and inciting hate?

As far as I've seen, it's almost always possible to determine what the intended message was. If the intention was to propagate hate or violence against a certain group(s), it is usually quite obviously stated.

So "God hates Fags" is bad but "A fool has said in his heart, 'there is no God'" is OK.

Should parody, mocking and making light of religions or a religion be restricted?

Well, not by law, because that would be against freedom of speech, but I do think that we should refrain ourselves from mocking other's beliefs (and this goes for atheists making fun of the religious, religious folks making fun of atheists, and religions making fun of other religions) out of civility.

I agree that civility should not be legislated. However, sometimes a good parody can be very insightful and make a point that might otherwise not be noticed. Go ahead, make fun of atheism, agnosticism, humanism, free-thought and / or ignosticism. My feelings will not be hurt.

[JoeyKnothead]

From the OP:

Should it be illegal to profane a religion?

No more than religion already is.

Should blasphemy be a criminal matter? How does the protection of free speech fit in?

Only for those who block it. Because a bunch of soldiers and support personell say so.

Is such criticism automatically count as hate speech?

No more than some of the hateful things I hear some theists say.

How does one draw the line between legitimate criticism and inciting hate?

To not approach the line? None of my writing, marking or etching tools could draw that fine a line.

Should parody, mocking and making light of religions or a religion be restricted?

Only to those who object to the right to parody.

This shouldn't be license to promote a violent hatred of folks, but mocking others is basic human nature.

I couldn't close this without mentioning we debate here under otseng's good graces. It's him paying the bills and 'administeratin' the site, he deserves to make the rules he thinks his site should run under. I can't deny I find the site plenty fair and civil without stifling any speech that doesn't directly address the questions at hand.

[WinePusher]

Should it be illegal to publicly criticize religion in general or a specific religion? Should blasphemy¹ be a criminal matter? How does the protection of free speech fit in? Is such criticism automatically count as hate speech²? How does one draw the line between legitimate criticism and inciting hate? Should parody, mocking and making light of religions or a religion be restricted?

_________________
¹ Blasphemy is irreverence toward holy personages, religious artifacts, customs, and beliefs.
² In law, hate speech is any speech, gesture or conduct, writing, or display which is forbidden because it may incite violence or prejudicial action against or by a protected individual or group, or because it disparages or intimidates a protected individual or group. The law may identify a protected individual or a protected group by race, gender, ethnicity, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, or other characteristic.

South Park, a very funny show, mocks christians, gays, red heads, blondes, jews, disabled people, buddhists, God and just about everything in the book. And none of these groups has complained or issued death threats.

But when south park mocks Mohammed, the creators get death threats from Muslims. Islamic Radicals killed a swedish cartoonist who mocked the prophet and they attempted to kill another european cartoonist but luckily failed.

[Lux]

No one expects the Spanish Inquisition.

If blasphemy was outlawed, I would hold secret "Monty Python Tuesdays" in my basement

[sarcasm]It is criticism when I point out the obvious flaws in your way of thinking. It is hate speech when you attack my deeply held religious views. [/sarcasm]

[sarcasm] Obviously. It's not the same, because I'm right and you're wrong! [/sarcasm]

So "God hates Fags" is bad but "A fool has said in his heart, 'there is no God'" is OK.

Yes, in my opinion. If someone said to me the latter, I'd dispute it and engage in a discussion, whereas if I ever see members of the WBC with their little signs, so help me... Bob? I might yell at them every 'word' that I know.
Still, I wouldn't deny them their right to display their bigotry as much as they want to.

I agree that civility should not be legislated. However, sometimes a good parody can be very insightful and make a point that might otherwise not be noticed. Go ahead, make fun of atheism, agnosticism, humanism, free-thought and / or ignosticism. My feelings will not be hurt.

Personally, I agree with you. But I realize some people are far more sensitive about their beliefs or non-beliefs than me. I have laughed at parodies of atheism, and I have loved religious parodies (such as Monty Python) that I'm sure would be deeply offensive to some folks. The thing is... nobody forces them to watch Monty Python movies, just like nobody forces me to attend church services that preach about how all atheists will burn in hell.
I prefer to display more civil disagreement when with religious people, and save the shameless parodies for the private comfort of my home

[chris_brown207]

Every wonder why the Founding Fathers made the First Amendment of our Constitution one that prohibits our government from "respecting any establishment of religion"???

Couldn't be because they wanted to ensure people's freedom of and FROM religion, could it???

Nah - that would be just crazy!!! [sarcasm]

[ChaosBorders]

Should it be illegal to publicly criticize religion in general or a specific religion?

No. It should not be.

Should blasphemy¹ be a criminal matter?

Definitely not. If God actually cares, he is more than capable of dealing with it himself. Personally, I don't think God is such a baby that someone is going to hurt his feelings with 'blasphemy'.

Is such criticism automatically count as hate speech?

No.

How does one draw the line between legitimate criticism and inciting hate?

Trying to incite violence, the profuse use of profanities in relation to the subject group, the general expression of a desire they would all die or come to great bodily harm, would probably all be examples of having passed "legitimate criticism".

Should parody, mocking and making light of religions or a religion be restricted?

Only if said parody, mocking, and making light can be demonstrated to be inciting physical harm against the members of said religions. I suspect that is rare, and would be difficult to prove even if it occurred, so generally would say such things should not be restricted.