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Blasphemy

Wu Wei

ursus senum severiorum and ex-Bisy Backson
I don't often post topics in this section, and it is possible this is the first time I have. Came accross this on the FaceBook page of the Universal Life Church

A Polish heavy metal singer has been convicted of blasphemy after posting a photo of himself stepping on an image of the Virgin Mary on Facebook.

A Polish heavy metal singer has been convicted of blasphemy after posting a photo of himself stepping on an image of the Virgin Mary on Facebook.

Complaints soon came in, and a religious studies expert told prosecutors that "treading with a shoe on the image of the Mother of God is an offense against religious feelings."

That seems to be all it took – the musician, Adam Darski, was charged under Poland’s blasphemy laws for offending religious sentiment with the photo.

He now faces a potential prison sentence of up to two years.

Blasphemy laws were once commonplace in most of the world, but have gradually been taken off the books in many countries.

Even without legal repercussions, doing something deemed blasphemous can still have huge consequences in the Western world. Many probably remember that singer Sinead O’Connor faced death threats and found her commercial career essentially kneecapped after an infamous 1992 performance on SNL when she ripped a photo of Pope John Paul II on live television.

What do you think of the Virgin Mary photo? Should we take more care to respect religious sensibilities? Or is the freedom to offend an important right?

The questions

What do you think of the Virgin Mary photo?

Should we take more care to respect religious sensibilities?

Or is the freedom to offend an important right?
 

JustGeorge

Not As Much Fun As I Look
Staff member
Premium Member
I have mixed feelings.

Its rude, to say the least. Probably unnecessary. But there's a lot worse things in life a person could do, and being as the person is in a band, its all theatrics anyways.

But, I think it would do us all some good to think our actions through a little better. Perhaps the individual doing the stepping has some deep seated issues with the Catholic church, and has deep scars that need to be healed. In that case, I can understand. Step away, if it genuinely helps you feel better.

But, if he(or she) is just doing it to be a turd, to flip religious people the bird, or the institutions or values they live their life by, I think they should can it. Many people in the world feel a deep connection to Mother Mary, and find this hurtful. Why would you intentionally do something that hurts people? Try to be considerate of others. How would you feel if someone stomped all over a picture of someone you held dear?

All in all, it comes down to the intent for me.
 

joe1776

Well-Known Member
I don't often post topics in this section, and it is possible this is the first time I have. Came accross this on the FaceBook page of the Universal Life Church

A Polish heavy metal singer has been convicted of blasphemy after posting a photo of himself stepping on an image of the Virgin Mary on Facebook.



The questions

What do you think of the Virgin Mary photo?

Should we take more care to respect religious sensibilities?

Or is the freedom to offend an important right?
Such acts are in poor taste; but to make them criminal persecutes people for belief and activities that do not conform to the majority opinion. Governments are dumping blasphemy laws for this reason.
 

Heyo

Veteran Member
What do you think of the Virgin Mary photo?
Photo? So it is possible that some have survived from 2000 years ago? Maybe there is also one from Jesus?
Should we take more care to respect religious sensibilities?

Or is the freedom to offend an important right?
Five years ago we were all "Charlie" because some fanatics "punished" people for a blasphemous act. Most of the west lauded France for standing up for the right to free speech.
Now, in another country of the EU, a court punishes an artist for using free speech. I hope he'll receive the same sympathy as Charlie Hebdo got.
 

ChristineM

"Be strong", I whispered to my coffee.
Premium Member
Personally i think religion is far to protective if its myths. They impose their beliefs on others but scream blue murder when others beliefs are thrust at them. And that selfishness has cost lives throughout history.

Why can't they just accept people have differences
 

stvdv

Veteran Member: I Share (not Debate) my POV
The questions

What do you think of the Virgin Mary photo?

Should we take more care to respect religious sensibilities?
I don't understand why people make such a problem of this:
1): A picture is just a picture; no more no less
2): Bible teaches not to worship idols (pictures, golden calf etc.)
3): I don't judge others who worship golden calf (or picture of Mary), they are free to do so IMO.

They are free to worship "golden calf or picture of Mary", BUT they are not free to impose this on me
 
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stvdv

Veteran Member: I Share (not Debate) my POV
Or is the freedom to offend an important right?
I don't believe one has the right to offend.

BUT I don't see this as offending; I don't worship Golden Calf or other images, like pictures

IF someone tramples on a picture of my Master, I would not get upset. It's just a picture
My Master might scold me if I got upset about such a thing, reminding me "are you still drowned in duality, after all the Teachings I gave you?"

I remember in this context a Krishna story:
A man was shouting mean words at Krishna. After some time people got upset. After a while Krishna took his Disque and chopped off the man's head. Blood dripped on the Feet of Krishna. Now people got even more upset, because this meant that this man merged into Krishna, he got all the Blessings possible, the highest Gift of Krishna. And Krishna replied to them, that for Him praise and blame is the same.
 

Saint Frankenstein

Wanderer From Afar
Premium Member
I don't often post topics in this section, and it is possible this is the first time I have. Came accross this on the FaceBook page of the Universal Life Church

A Polish heavy metal singer has been convicted of blasphemy after posting a photo of himself stepping on an image of the Virgin Mary on Facebook.



The questions

What do you think of the Virgin Mary photo?

Should we take more care to respect religious sensibilities?

Or is the freedom to offend an important right?
People need to mind their own business. If it's his, he can do what he wants with it. Satanists and other anti-Christians have the right to our beliefs and practices, just like Christians crap on everyone else's beliefs and practices. Goes both ways. Poland is very stifling with its hardcore Catholicism so his rebellion against is very understandable.
 

icehorse

......unaffiliated...... anti-dogmatist
Premium Member
To me, blasphemy laws are an indication that "the faithful" are actually quite insecure (as they should be), in their faith.

In other words "my faith is fragile, so if you make fun of it, I''ll need to punish you".
 

Earthtank

Active Member
What do you think those consequences should be in this case?

That's not for me decide. How does a person quantify being offended? You can have 2 different people react completely differently to the same offense. Some black people would be willing shoot someone for using the N word while others will just ignore the idiot. Extremists Muslims are willing to kill and blow stuff up over a cartoon while others ignore the idiot who drew them. Some don't care that you step on a pic of Mary while others clearly want "blood". I am pretty sure in this particular case an Atheist, Jew and Christian might all have 3 different consequences (or none) to what had occurred.
 

Earthtank

Active Member
I believe we MUST defend the right to offend

Agreed, to a certain extent however. Just keep in mind the same way people have the right to offend, others have the right to retaliate in any way they see fit. The same way the offender offended in the way they saw fit. Its a 2 way street
 

lewisnotmiller

Grand Hat
Staff member
Premium Member
That's not for me decide. How does a person quantify being offended? You can have 2 different people react completely differently to the same offense. Some black people would be willing shoot someone for using the N word while others will just ignore the idiot. Extremists Muslims are willing to kill and blow stuff up over a cartoon while others ignore the idiot who drew them. Some don't care that you step on a pic of Mary while others clearly want "blood". I am pretty sure in this particular case an Atheist, Jew and Christian might all have 3 different consequences (or none) to what had occurred.

But the criminal consequence should be consistent.
Thoughts on that?
 

ChristineM

"Be strong", I whispered to my coffee.
Premium Member
The same can be said about transgenders. In other words " my made up identity is so fragile, so if you make fun of it "ill need to cancel you or have you fired"

Yeah you honestly make no sense. So just because people get offended when their religious figure gets stepped on that means they are insecure?

I was just about to say you are nothing more than a hater and Anti-theist that it clouds your judgement then I check your religion on your profile lol. Yup seems about right


Ehm, how many transgender people do you know?
 

Earthtank

Active Member
But the criminal consequence should be consistent.
Thoughts on that?

Yes I agree but in reality we know not all criminals get the same and consistent consequence based off the same crimes. Look at the US and how when the rich vs poor, or black vs white sentences.

Back to the main point, It seems Poland does have laws for these types of crimes. Not saying I agree or disagree but it does seem to be the law in Poland

"Adam Darski, was charged under Poland’s blasphemy laws for offending religious sentiment with the photo."
 
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