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

[ummmm]

You're are so full of yourself that you can't be bothered to see if a question is asked on the same subject!!

[Zacs-Master]

Not sure you can have an accurate assessment of something / someone which doesn't exist.

In fact, strike that. You can't.

[andy-hughes]

I remember this when it came out - I watched the clip and felt grateful to Mr Fry for articulating far better than I ever could, the nonsense of the worship of an unseen deity in a modern world.

[ToraToraTora]

don't get your alans in a brahms ummmm, I can't see another question about this and AB did not display one.

[ToraToraTora]

still can see it ummmm, you on the steam?

[Mamyalynne]

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Society-and-Culture/Religion-and-Spirituality/Question1551342.html

[pixie374]

I think it can...
"blasphemy
ˈblasfəmi/Submit
noun
the action or offence of speaking sacrilegiously about God or sacred things; profane talk.
"he was detained on charges of blasphemy"
synonyms: profanity, profaneness, sacrilege, irreligiousness, irreverence, taking the Lord's name in vain, swearing, curse, cursing, impiety, impiousness, ungodliness, unholiness, desecration, disrespect; formalimprecation; archaicexecration
"he was condemned for his blasphemy"

It doesn't say whether it needs to be accurate or not.

[ToraToraTora]

right so it's buried in a sub section, I never look at subsections. Since the new site layout I mostly look in news,, motoring and sport. Anyway ummmm, not sure why you feel the need top be so rude.

[andy-hughes]

Pix - I guess on that basis Mr Fry is as guilty as a guilty person.

It only depends on the law-makers and enforcers actually believing in God for the case to stick - if they don't believe, as I do not, then there is no case because there is no concept of blasphemy to deal with.

[pixie374]

He probably is technically guilty if it's still a crime. But absolutely right, anyway.

[andy-hughes]

It's the age-old dilemma, you can agree entirely with someone's views and actions, but those views and actions can still be against the law, and as such be prosecutable.

[pixie374]

Let's wait and see if God decides to sue him...

[Zacs-Master]

I don't think the fact that his actions were against the law is the point. It's the anachronistic nature of that law which is being questioned.

[andy-hughes]

We need TTT to return and confirm if that is indeed the thrust of his OP.

[ToraToraTora]

I think Mr Fry is basically saying if "god" exists then he's doing a pretty awful job at the same time as implying that he clearly does not exist. I think that his assessment is accurate and that may be blasphemy but really it's a nonsensical determination when clearly all he's doing is assessing what is actually happening.

[Zacs-Master]

I don't think there's any 'basically' about it. He's stating it in 100ft high letters. He's not assessing what is actually happening. If he were then God would have to exist. He's pointing out the ridiculous nature of suggesting God is a rational entity.

[andy-hughes]

I have to agree with Zacs on this one.

The monologue during which Mr Fry was deemed to have committed the offence of blasphemy was clearly not only stating the indefensible cruelty of 'God', but simultaneously putting forward the fundamental position of the confirmed atheist - which effectively says that there is no 'God' and bad things do happen, just because they happen.

[ToraToraTora]

yes I did not put it very well, I agree zacs and andy. He's essentially using the - god cannot possibly exist because if he did the world would not be like it is - argument.

[Zacs-Master]

No, I think you've got it slightly the wrong way round again. Your argument supposes that the world would be a better place if God existed which is a whole different argument. Fry is saying, how can people who believe in God believe that He created a world with so much injustice and intolerance.

[mikey4444]

TTT has it broadly right here IMHO. Fry is only saying what rational people have been saying for years.

More power to him I say !