Pat Condell, British writer, comedian, and atheist, once said that freedom of speech was, to him, the most sacred value of all. As sacred to him as any god ever was to any believer. So sacred, in fact, that Condell even supports the right of religious fundamentalist nut jobs to spew their caustic dogma freely. In other words, free speech should not be compromised; it is indispensable (even when it causes offense or annoyance).[1]
Being that today is Blasphemy Day International, I felt that Condell’s message of free speech was particularly appropriate. Yes, Blasphemy Day International is a real thing. And, though most of what you’ll see regarding this “event” is a lot of denigrating, mocking, satirizing, and criticizing of religion, it would be a shame if that became the whole of your understanding of what Blasphemy Day International is all about. Certainly, I celebrate along with my fellow irreligious the right to blaspheme an imaginary god. But I fear the message may be lost in the midst of the irreverence.
Blasphemy Day International is a day that recognizes that human beings should have the right to express themselves freely. Freedom of thought, freedom of identity, and freedom of speech. It is not, and should not be, the role of the government to criminalize verbal dissent. People should be free to speak their opinions without fear of state-sanctioned punishment.
Unfortunately, we live in a world where those who seek to impose religion are more than willing to do so violently. In their zeal for their god, some would trample underfoot the rights of everyone around them. In some countries, they already have.
In Egypt, the Sunni majority uses the country’s “blasphemy laws” to persecute any dissenters–religious or nonreligious.
In Greece and Germany, public blasphemy can lead to incarceration.[2]
In Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan punishment up to and including execution is prescribed for blasphemers.
In numerous other countries, such as Finland, Israel, Denmark, and Brazil, blasphemous speech or criticism of religion are punishable offenses. In other countries, such as Yemen, Pakistan, and Nigeria, those accused of blasphemy are harassed, defamed, and often killed either by the government agencies or vigilantes.[3]
Freedom of speech, something so foundational to a free society, is not guaranteed. Many countries already suppress dissent (particularly religious dissent). And, unfortunately, even those of us from countries that are built on freedom seem all-too-willing to capitulate to the demands of the enemies of free expression. Even now, a struggle is being fought among world leaders (great job UN) over whether or not to criminalize, globally, the “defamation of religion.” Governments around the world are seriously considering compromising free speech in order to appease those who reject basic human rights.
That is what Blasphemy Day International is about. It is not really about blasphemy at all; it is about the right to disagree openly, to dissent publicly. It is about the struggle to ensure that each of us has the right to believe what we choose, and to express those beliefs publicly without fear of reprisal.
It is a firm affirmation that you have the right to speak freely about your god, and so do I. So, here’s to Blasphemy Day International. A day that reminds us that the freedoms we enjoy should be extended to others as well (even if we don’t like what they have to say). A day that tells those who would deny others the right to free speech, “We will not be cowed.”
Let’s build a better world, based on freedom.
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[1] Here is a link to Condell’s witty, scathing, inspiring (for an atheist like me, anyway) video, “Free speech is sacred.”
[2] Some of the information on blasphemy laws can be found in this fantastic video, made by the members of the UNIFI.
[3] Wikipedia has a concise summation of many of the blasphemy laws around the world. (Don’t judge me; if college kids can use Wikipedia as a source, so can I).
Unfound Places 