Is Monty Python's Life Of Brian Blasphemous?

[naomi24]

If so, why?

[The Builder]

No.

PARODY ... noun: an imitation of the style of a particular writer,
artist, or genre with deliberate exaggeration for comic
effect.

Blasphemy being in the eye of the beholder.

[The Builder]

Anyway .............. posters went up in Sweden at the time saying...

"so funny, it was banned in Norway"

[naomi24]

^Haha. That's^ funny too! :o)

[Atheist]

I think this discussion needs a definition of blasphemy. I'd have thought that only the adherent of a religion(A) can blaspheme against it (A); otherwise anyone of a different religion(B) would be a blasphemer against A and possibly subject to a death penalty by the A's. This is why we need secular society, where political power is not in the hands of religion.

[Khandro]

Atheist; //This is why we need secular society, where political power is not in the hands of religion.//
Try North Korea, you'll love it there, :0)

[naomi24]

Atheist, From the Oxford dictionary. //behaviour or language that insults or shows a lack of respect for God or religion//

The charge isn't restricted to the religious.

[ludwig]

The film makes fun of the religious, so obviously they don't like it because nobody likes people making fun of them.

Technically that probably counts as blasphemy, and that's probably blasphemy is all about anyway - a law invented by people to stop other people making fun of them.

It's not ridiculing God or Jesus, but the mentality of their followers....'You are the messiah, and I should know, I've followed a few' etc.

I think it's a good film. Very funny.

[Atheist]

Naomi, thanks for pointing to the OD definition. What worries me is that blasphemy seems to be considered as a terrible sin by many, and as a crime in some countries. Criticism of a religion is often seen as blasphemy, unlike criticism of other beliefs such as brexit/remain or political views. Fortunately we don't have a blasphemy law in the UK.

[naomi24]

atheist, //Fortunately we don't have a blasphemy law in the UK. //

Indeed, but as I said absence of such a law doesn't prevent people from regarding what they see as criticism or mockery of religion as blasphemy. We can legislate against actions but we can't legislate against thought - and thoughts are what I'm after here.

[Atheist]

Khandro, separation of state and religion doesn't guarantee that a country will be well governed. France and the USA are secular states. US constitution was drawn up to ensure that one religion could not take power and persecute the others.Secularism is meant to protect against religious persecution; that's why many Europeans emigrated there.

[Theland]

It would be a bloodbath if Islam was similarly lampooned.

[Hopkirk]

Absolutely Theland. Remember Charlie Hebdo in Paris.

[Mozz71]

Its not about Christ, so shouldn't be considered blasphemous. The only time Jesus Christ appears in the movie, he is treated with respect and reverance.

Are people still getting offended by a forty year old movie?