Category: Blasphemy

BBC director general admits Christianity gets tougher treatment than Islam, other religions

BBC The BBC director general Mark Thompson has claimed that Christianity is treated with less sensitivity than other religions because it is “pretty broad shoulders”.

He suggested other faiths had “very close identity with ethnic minorities” and as a result were covered in a more careful way by broadcasters.

Taking aim at God on ‘Blasphemy Day’

Blasphemy Day Outraged by nations that want to execute blasphemers and propelled by a deep belief in the freedom of expression, Lindsay is forging ahead with his “nothing is sacred” movement.

Wednesday marks the first organized observance of Blasphemy Day, a series of events, exhibits and lectures unfolding in a host of mostly North American cities that are part of a larger Campaign for Free Expression.

Blasphemy law ditched by the Dutch

Netherlands flag A controversial anti-blasphemy law is being scrapped by the Dutch government.

In scrapping the law the cabinet is meeting the demand of parliament where a majority of parties argued that offering religious groups an extra layer of legal protection is outdated.

As an alternative the cabinet is now seeking to strengthen anti-discrimination laws against groups whatever their background, thus taking the religious component out of the equation.

Chocolate Jesus Resurrected In New York City

“My Sweet Lord,” an anatomically correct milk chocolate sculpture of Jesus Christ that infuriated Catholics before its April unveiling was canceled, returns Oct. 27 to a Chelsea art gallery, its creator said Tuesday. This time, artist Cosimo Cavallaro said he expects the public exhibit to proceed without a problem.

Greek ban lifted on hippie Jesus book

ATHENS — An appeals court yesterday overturned the conviction of Austrian cartoonist Gerhard Haderer for blasphemy over a comic book portraying Jesus as a marijuana-smoking hippie. Haderer, 54, was given a six-month suspended prison sentence in January for “maliciously insulting the Orthodox Church,” and his book The Life of Jesus was banned in Greece – causing protests from European human rights groups and other cartoonists. The book, published in several European countries, portrays Jesus as a hippie surfer who enjoys smoking marijuana with friends and celebrities, including Jimi Hendrix. The three-member court was unanimous in its ruling. Haderer was not

Jesus as a drunkard, naked surfer?

A Greek court will rule on Wednesday whether to allow sales of a cartoon book from Austria depicting Jesus Christ as a drinking buddy of Jimi Hendrix and a marijuana-smoking, naked surfer. Cartoonist Gerhard Haderer was found guilty by a Greek court of “malicious public blasphemy” this year and received a six-month suspended prison sentence for his take on the life of Christ – but he can only be detained if he comes to Greece. The book went on sale in Greece briefly in 2002, but the Orthodox Church was outraged and succeeded in having it immediately withdrawn through a