International Blasphemy Day

September 30, 2009 by Julie · 5 Comments
Filed under: Holidays & Observances

I’ll be honest, I wasn’t too keen on the idea of International Blasphemy Day which is why I haven’t created a post about it until today.

I do like the Campaign for Free Expression’s catch phrase, “Ideas don’t need rights, people do” because that embodies the movement. All religious dogma should be questioned and should not have a monopoly on free speech, no matter what country you live in. Religion, if you choose it, should be private and should not be found in government, especially in the state funded school system.

I agree to a great extent with Paul Kurtz from his post at Center for Inquiry yesterday.

When we defended the right of a Danish newspaper to publish cartoons deploring the violence of Muslim suicide bombers, we were supporting freedom of the press. The right to publish dissenting critiques of religion should be accepted as basic to freedom of expression. But for CFI itself to sponsor the lampooning of Christianity by encouraging anti-Catholic, anti-Protestant, or any other anti-religious cartoons goes beyond the bounds of civilized discourse in pluralistic society.

Kurtz was specifically responding to CFI’s Cartoon Contest, but I think his opinion (and the full post) is a worthy read. Atheists are often accused of being smug and demeaning, and though I think that criticism is mostly uncalled for there are those who do act this way and give the new atheist movement an unpleasant appearance. I agree that most religion is highly laughable, and therefore difficult to not poke fun at when debating the major and minor points, but we as a group of like-minded intelligent individuals should refrain from, as Paul Kurtz puts it, “lampooning” their beliefs for our own enjoyment. After all, we are not going to convince religious fundamentalists you can be a good moral person without god if we choose to act in a vicious and callous way.

One may disagree with contending religious beliefs, but to denigrate them by rude caricatures borders on hate speech. What would humanists and skeptics say if religious believers insulted them in the same way? We would protest the lack of respect for alternative views in a democratic society.

So tread carefully. Now that I’ve got my opinion out of the way, I’m not adverse to having a little fun, so here’s a couple of atheist one-liners to tickle your tummy.

Abstinence Makes the Church Grow Fondlers

Intelligent Design Makes My Monkey Cry

“Worship Me or I Will Torture You Forever. Have a Nice Day.” God.

Viva La Evolución!

Actually, If You Look It Up, The Winter Solstice Is The Reason For The Season

People Who Don’t Want Their Beliefs Laughed at Shouldn’t Have Such Funny Beliefs

Threatening Children With Hell Is FUN!

God Doesn’t Exist. So, I Guess That Means No One Loves You.

Science: It Works, Bitches.

My Flying Monkey Can Beat Up Your Guardian Angel

Every Time You Play With Yourself, God Kills a Kitten

Praying Is Politically Correct Schizophrenia