Can An Accurate Assesment Be Deemed "blasphemy"?

[ToraToraTora]

http://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/stephen-fry-under-police-investigation-for-blasphemy-after-branding-god-an-utter-maniac/ar-BBAOGuo?li=BBoPWjQ&ocid=mailsignout

[Zacs-Master]

Broadly, yes. I don't think there's anyone arguing against him or Mr Fry. Just a debate on the angle the latter is coming from.

[Old_Geezer]

I don't believe anyone can know what differences there would be comparing a universe where no deity exists with one where one does; so as an argument it is irrelevant; and fails.

Meanwhile, IMO any sane person must realise that the concept of blasphemy is an abomination before the Lord, and should not exist. It is fair to not be impolite; rude even, about another's beliefs, but it is ridiculous to make it a criminal offence to try to indicate possible weaknesses in another's beliefs.

[sp1814]

It depends on what your interpretation of God is.

If you think that there is a force beyond our understanding that governs the planet, plants, people and atmosphere, then technically - that's God.

I'm an atheist, but if someone asked me:

"How comes the planet Earth exists, and we can't find anything else remotely comparable out there in space?"

or:

"How is it that this complex machine we call Earth functions? How is it that the balance between man, animal, and nature came about? How could it be accidental?"

I would be stumped.

However, I don't believe in some all-powerful deity that you can blaspheme against.

God is not Morgan Freeman (although he might look a bit like him).

[ToraToraTora]

bit heavy but it's the anthropic principle:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthropic_principle#Variants
basically we are here because we are here to see we are here!

[Zacs-Master]

Weak or strong tho?

[sp1814]

TTT

But what caused the universe to exist in the first place?

When did time (as we understand it) begin?

What caused the big bang?

I'm not asking you to actually answer those questions - it's just a thought exercise.

[sp1814]

This may be the most existential thread ever on the News section of AB.

[TWR]

Why has it taken 2 years to come to light?

[ToraToraTora]

weak ZM.

[Peter Pedant]

// A spokesman for Mr Fry told the Daily Telegraph there was “nothing for us to say while this is under investigation”.//

erm yes it seems so

this is Irish Law by the way -

I dont think we have criminal libel in this country
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criminal_libel

[dannyk13]

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/libertycentral/2009/oct/27/criminal-libel-free-speech