Religion?

[Maderic84]

Is it illegal to declare yourself a Messiah and set up your own religion?

[andy-hughes]

No it's not illegal. You can infringe laws by things you say under the guise of beng a Messiah, but actually proclaiming yourself as a saviour is fine - politicians do it all the time!

[gazzawazza]

Didn't David Icke do something similar a few years ago?

[jake-the-peg]

Well that depends on exactly what you intend to say.

Incredibly there is still a law of Blasphemy in the UK ( there was some consideration to scrapping it a few years ago but I don't think it happened)

Critically it only protects the Christian religion so saying a Messiah rather than claiming to be Jesus Christ is important.

During a private prosecution in 1977, the trial judge said blasphemous libel was committed if a publication about God, Christ, the Christian religion or the Bible used words which were scurrilous, abusive or offensive, which vilified Christianity and might lead to a breach of the peace.

[Lonnie]

Problem is.if you say your the Messiah, whose to prove your not.

In Jewish history, there were quite a few Messiahs, Jesus wasn't among them.

[WaldoMcFroog]

He's not the messiah, he's a very naughty boy!

[Well, someone had to...]

[Quizmonster]

Isn't that more or less what L Ron Hubbard did when he set up Scientology?

[brionon]

As the one and only true Prophet of the 'Exploding Pommegranat'' religion, I can only say ,in due religious love for my fellow man, ''All who don't believe in me are Doomed to eternal the Eternal Fire.'' Hard luck.

[mindimplode]

I can't wait to go to hell - all my mates are gonna be there.

[enidblyton]

no its not illegal but it should be