September 30 is International Blasphemy Day!
What is International Blasphemy Day? The basics:
International Blasphemy Day is not just a day. It is a movement to dismantle the wall which exists between religion and criticism.
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The objective of International Blasphemy Day is to open up all religious beliefs to the same level of free inquiry, discussion and criticism to which all other areas of academic interest are subjected.Why September 30? The last day in September is the anniversary of the original publication of Danish cartoons in 2005 depicting the prophet Muhammad’s face. Any visual depiction of Muhammad is considered a grave offence under Islamic law.
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The newspapers which chose to publish these cartoons were in many cases blamed for the outpouring of violence which followed. This unfortunate yet inevitable sequence of events clearly demonstrated a dangerous misconception that had piggy-backed into the 21st century on the shoulders of ignorance, fear and apathy, that all religious beliefs and ideas deserve respect and are beyond criticism or satire.International Blasphemy Day is a movement, not just a day, to remind the world that religion should never again be beyond open and honest discussion or reproach. Our future depends on it.
I can get behind that 100%. I’ve said more than once that we need to shove religion and “faith” off their pedestals and disabuse ourselves of the notion that they should be protected from question or criticism. Some people believe they should be able to do as they please in the name of their “deeply held religious beliefs” and never have to be held accountable for it. That’s not only offensive but dangerous.
So how do you celebrate International Blasphemy Day? Blaspheme on your Blog. Blaspheme in a video you post online. Blaspheme in the public square. You can also enter the Center For Inquiry’s contest:
Some governments and institutions—and even some individuals—want to keep certain topics off limits. This is especially true with religion. In many places, discussions and questions about religion are discouraged, even punished. But how can we come to our own conclusions about religion if we can’t freely examine and discuss it?
To encourage free expression and to celebrate Blasphemy Day 2009 (September 30), CFI and its sister organization, the Council for Secular Humanism, are sponsoring a Blasphemy Contest.
Blasphemy: n. the act of denying or scoffing at God or God’s alleged attributes.
To enter, all you have to do is create a phrase, poem, or statement that would be or would have been considered blasphemous. Entries may take any form (haiku anyone?), but must be 20 words or less. The top 5 winners will receive CFI t-shirts with their submission printed on the shirt. In addition to the shirt, the first place winner will also receive a mug imprinted with the winning phrase, recognition in Free Inquiry magazine, general publicity, and, naturally, eternal damnation.
There is also, of course, a Facebook group for the event.
Now get out there and be blasphemous!
