Stephen Fry Blasphemy Investigation

[ludwig]

I thought this was a joke article from one of those spoof news sites when I first saw it. There are lots of questions here but I'll go with 'Does anyone think he'll actually be charged with the offence?'

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/05/06/stephen-fry-police-investigation-blasphemy-branding-god-utter/

[anotheoldgit]

vetuste_ennemi

Totally agree can one imagine the outcry if he had insulted Islam's god in such a way, we would most likely never see Fry on our screens ever again.

[mikey4444]

I didn't think it would be very long before we had today's first anti-Muslim post !

I suppose these anti-Muslim rants are rather like London busses....don't worry too much if you miss one, as another is sure come along again soon !

[ummmm]

We were taught that using the Lords name in vain was blasphemy.

The Irish are the worse people for using the Lords name in vain.

[naomi24]

Mikey, //If Ireland has a law preventing people from speaking their mind, then the law is an Irish ass.//

Does that apply to other countries that have similar laws – or is it acceptable in Muslim countries? After all, we wouldn’t want to be seen to be criticising Islam, would we? ;o)

[anotheoldgit]

mikey4444

You'll never miss one mikey, you can't wait until one comes along.

[mikey4444]

To be fair to you AOG, it was someone else that first managed to get an anti-Muslim rant into this thread, which has nothing to do with Islam at all.

[nailit]

Mikey, I would like to see your response to naomi's post @9.35
Is the law also an ass in muslim countries when it prevents people speaking their minds?

[anotheoldgit]

mikey4444
Sorry for misunderstanding you mikey, but surely one has to agree if he had said such a thing about Islam, there would be all manner of things going off.

One has to voice such things, in an age where we are forever seeking equality, don't you agree?

[ummmm]

Why? Enough is said on here about Islam...

[naomi24]

Mikey, to quote you “to be fair” we’re talking about blasphemy laws. How is Islam, which has the most strictly applied blasphemy laws in the world, exempt from the discussion?

[Khandro]

mikey; //it was someone else that first managed to get an anti-Muslim rant into this thread, which has nothing to do with Islam at all. //

Which demonstrates how you seem not appreciate that the God of Christians is the same God as that Muslims. What the latter seem to get most het up about is the insulting of their prophet, Mohammed, something for which I fail to understand considering his CV, (which I'll spare you for now).

[Zacs-Master]

'free speech can and should always trump religious dogma.'

Completely agree.

Does anyone know where the €25,000 fine goes? The Catholic Church, to buy more solid gold candle sticks perhaps?

[vetuste_ennemi]

Blasphemy laws in the West (even where they are still on the statute books) have long been dead letter. In other parts of the world, however, they are far from moribund.

Here are two examples:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-25874580 (Pakistan)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-38285515 (Indonesia)

[mibn2cweus]

Why anyone would believe god needs our help is no less mindless as the belief that god exists. One would think eternal damnation for blasphemy would be punishment enough. Belief in a god that is incapable of defending itself is indefensible.

[Khandro]

Ahh, the irrepressible pagan arrives with words of wisdom to enlighten us.

[Zacs-Master]

Rather than the irrepressible Christian with words from his non existent deity.

[andy-hughes]

Kahndo - //Ahh, the irrepressible pagan arrives with words of wisdom to enlighten us. //

If your post is directed at mibsn2cweus - do you have any evidence that he is in fact a pagan, or are you make another in a serious of tall assumptions based on your own view, rather than fact?

[naomi24]

Khandro, I agree, mibn2cweus' words are wise - but he isn't a pagan.

[ludwig]

// this obnoxious self-serving so-called intellectual, goes out of his way, not to offend God, but to offend and insult completely innocent people to whom their belief is important. // I don't think he's doing that at all Khandro. As fair as I can see he was asked a question and he just gave an honest opinion.

[mikey4444]

Well said Ludwig !