Blasphemy

Blasphemy is considered sometimes a lesser act of sacrilege, because it is mainly a form of oral religious disrespect. Though on the other hand, sometimes physical acts of sacrilegious behaviour are called blasphemy, though most likely inaccurately. Generally speaking an act of blasphemy is indignity offered to God through words, writing or signs, –apparently hand signals count too. Perhaps also thoughts, because in the Christian or Catholic faiths, there can be such a thing as to have “blasphemous thoughts”. Basically, and according to Webster’s Dictionary, blasphemy is “the use of irreverent words or signs in reference to the Supreme Being in such a way as to produce scandal or provoke violence.” Blasphemy is also defined as a figurative, not literal, defamation or criticism of a person or thing held in high honor.

However, in some countries, the act of blasphemy, such as speaking irreverently against any god, or Supreme Deity, no longer causes much of a scandal, and rarely causes acts of extreme violence, even in very religious communities. Figurative blasphemy should not be mistaken as speaking out against a king or emperor, –the still counts as literal religious blasphemy, because many kings or rulers of state are placed in their position by God, or their Supreme Being. So to speak irreverently of a ruler, is also to be blasphemous. Some countries still have very strict laws against blasphemy, such as those where the primary religion is Islam.

Finally, figurative blasphemy can be used as humor, although some people take it more seriously. For example, a die-hard Exorcist fan might say to a hardcore Phantasm fan, “Phantasm sucked.” That could be called blasphemy by the Phantasm fan. And vice versa, wherein, the Phantasm fan tells the Exorcist fan, that “Linda Blair is a crappy actress.” The next step is most likely a fist-fight, based on the level of shared fanaticism.