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Politics : Actual left/right wing discussion -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Lane3 who wrote (2648)	10/12/2006 4:55:24 PM
From: TimF	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 10087

An inquisitor might make the charge of blasphemy. Blasphemy as a charge of an illegal act which will be punished if "proven", is indeed heavy handed. I'd take your statement further and say that it is much more destructive than most insensitive treatment of religion. Blasphemy as a charge that invokes "social punishment" is in-between. It can be heavy handed, and can be destructive in a similar way to insensitive treatment of religious beliefs. If the social punishment is severe enough (for example total or near total exclusion from social and/or business interaction with society) it can rise to the level of "oppressive". Blasphemy as a claim that invokes no laws or punishment is more close mindedness than heavy handedness. It is a special case of refusal to consider an alternate explanation on its merits. Close mindedness can indeed be destructive, but it would mostly be indirectly destructive. Edit - Looking in to the definition of blasphemy it includes just showing contempt to a religious belief or deity, and also claiming to be a deity. It could be used as a normal word expressing such actions. It probably typically is used only by someone who would lock out all consideration of the "blasphemous" idea, and possibly even punish the stater of the idea, but it definition isn't limited to such use. So you have "That is blasphemy" possibly representing everything from a charge that you have committed a crime punishable by death to it amounting to mere assertion that you have been disrespectful and contempuous of a religion or religious ideas.