I’m posting this on the 30th of September — International Blasphemy Day. Every year on this day we celebrate where we have free speech and lament and highlight where we don’t.
In Western culture, it’s easy to take our freedoms for granted. But you don’t have to go far back to reach times when saying something even mildly critical of whatever religious or ideological nonsense was prevalent at the time could land you in prison or cost you your life. Despite it being the 21st century, this is sadly still the case in many parts of the world. It is a shameful stain on our collective humanity.
In the West, blasphemy is mostly no longer enshrined in law, though it’s not as finished as you might think. In the UK, elements arguably remain within aspects of the Public Order Act and this was certainly the case prior to its reform in 2014.
But the freedoms we do have should be celebrated, for they were hard-won. Sadly, it’s all too easy for later generations to be ignorant of the struggle, to place little value on the prize, to give it away without a fight, to give it away without even noticing.
And where blasphemy has been removed from law, it has often re-emerged in the form of cancel culture, enforced through the moral policing of social media. The same dynamics are in evidence — the high priests dictating the dogma and expounding the sacred tenets; the censure of debate; the punishment of those who speak out; the public trials and public shaming; the destruction of livelihoods. For shame.
So in honour of this day, here are five perfectly reasonable things we’re not allowed to say, protected either through blasphemy laws or cancel culture or both.
1. There are no gods
The original and still the best! There’s really nothing to say on this one, other than I never cease to be fascinated with how educated adults can believe in fairy stories told to them by men in dresses. In many parts of the world belief in such nonsense is still compelled. Challenging it can get you killed.
One of the greatest weapons against all forms of authoritarian nonsense is ridicule. And here there’s only one clip to go for:
2. There is no such thing as ‘Islamophobia'
The mere fact that this word has entered the lexicon is a concern. This is a new blasphemy law by the back door. Islam is not a race, it is a religion, an ideological belief system as dangerous and irrational as any other. It should not be protected from criticism.
The late great Christopher Hitchens put it far better than I ever could.
3. Men cannot become women
This is basic biology. Like all mammals, humans are always one of two sexes, with bodies built around the production of either the large gamete (female) or small gamete (male). This leads to a great many significant and permanent differences between the bodies of men and women. All of this can be found in biology textbooks, of course, so it’s incredible that this is in any way controversial, but, of course, you don’t need me to tell you that it is.
Having said this, in the West, men are free to dress as they like, present as they like, go by whatever name they like, even get cosmetic surgery to change their appearance. They are free to declare that they are a woman to anyone who will listen. But they will always be men and we should not be pressured or coerced into being part of anyone’s delusions or agendas to the contrary. If you do want to believe they are women and shout about it from the rooftops, then that is your right, too, of course.
4. Some cultures are superior to others
Once again, this is so self-evident as to make it difficult to know where to start, yet some people will pontificate that all cultures are equal and it’s wrong to observe that one culture, or aspects of it, is superior to another. It’s nonsense, of course. The freedom that gay, lesbian and bisexual people have in Western culture is superior to the fear and oppression they can suffer in Russia and China. The freedom women have in Western culture is superior to the violent oppression they suffer in Islamic states. Western culture of the 19th century with its slavery (to name but one problem) is inferior to modern Western culture.
Does this mean Western culture is without its problems? No, of course not, and it’s healthy that this should be discussed, but we should not be embarrassed or dishonest about what it has achieved.
5. It’s fine to microwave a cold cup of tea
I know, I know, you were with me all the way and then I go and ruin it all by including the most heinous and unspeakable utterance on the list. Perhaps he’s been radicalised? Perhaps it’s a joke? Perhaps, he doesn’t really believe this? Well, that’s the perfect way to end. Because the point is not whether the special fragile holy belief is true, it’s about the freedom to say that it isn’t. That’s it. Nothing more. In each of the five examples, I would not wish anyone to be prevented from voicing the opposite view, … well, apart from the last one 😉
Colton.
Title image by Jose Fontano on Unsplash
If you've enjoyed reading this why not spend some delightful time with the old masters of blasphemy terror, our dear chums the Catholic Church, in the The Strange History of Limbo.
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