Blasphemy

In its common context, blasphemy can mean different things to different individuals and a discussion of blasphemy is likely to unleash many a passionate feeling. This is because blasphemy is about showing irreverence to the sacred and this sacred is likely to be the very glue that binds a society. The sacred is often the source of the rules by which individuals live out their lives or are treated by a society. Although ancient Greeks used to have laws about blasphemy, the early Roman Emperors considered blasphemy to be a matter that was best left to the Gods. Blasphemy started to be taken most seriously when Moses was given the Law of God and any mortal who dared to irreverently mention the name of God was required to be put to death. This dissertation attempts to examine the treatment of blasphemy in English Law and other Legal systems of the world.