Abstract
After discussing the role of blasphemy and blasphemy-like laws in the modern world, this Article discusses three related, but distinct, ways to think about blasphemy: as a religious concept, as a legal concept, and, in what at first may seem an oxymoron, “secular blasphemy.” The Article then proceeds to discuss two of the fundamental issues that underlay the curious persistence of blasphemy and blasphemy laws: (1) why do people blaspheme to begin with; and (2) what harms, real or imagined, does blasphemy cause? The theory presented in these pages is that the concept of blasphemy, in its diverse forms, speaks to a fundamental element of human psychology: as long as people believe certain things are sacred, they will believe certain remarks are blasphemous.
Recommended Citation
Patrick, Jeremy
(2011)
"The Curious Persistence of Blasphemy,"
Florida Journal of International Law: Vol. 23:
Iss.
2, Article 2.
Available at:
https://scholarship.law.ufl.edu/fjil/vol23/iss2/2