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This is troubling. This a legitimate philosophical problem that dates back to Epicurus, Hume, Kant. It's something theologians since Aquinas have wrestled with,

This is troubling. This a legitimate philosophical problem that dates back to Epicurus, Hume, Kant. It's something theologians since Aquinas have wrestled with, and that modern philosophers such have taken up. It applies as much to Christianity as it does to Judaism and Islam. There's no reason for this to be covered by blasphemy laws, even if you accepted blasphemy laws as legitimate.

eternalban 9y ago
It is legitimate but it is also of the sophomoric category of questions. As for Islam that you mention, there are no such issues in Islam. Stephen Fry is arguing the same position that Satan does in the Qur'an, pointing out 'errors' in God's judgment. The Angels question God too in the Qur'an, but they do it very politely ..
- kristianc 9y ago
  Yes - and I agree with you, it's banal and in some ways a very Stephen Fryish question to ask - but asking a simplistic question is not to my knowledge, a crime.
  - SomeStupidPoint 9y ago
    Well, clearly it is a crime. The debate is over if it should be a crime.
  - eternalban 9y ago
    I wasn't addressing the crime bit. Positively, blasphemy laws are designed to keep such conversations limited to informed circles, and negatively of course they are a means of maintaining doctrinal control over the masses.
- tim333 9y ago
  Hmm... >Those who annoy Allah and His Messenger – Allah has cursed them in this World and in the Hereafter, and has prepared for them a humiliating Punishment... >They shall have a curse on them: whenever they are found, they shall be seized and slain (without mercy). [Quran 33:57–61] You could argue calling Allah “stupid” and an “utter maniac” might annoy him, hypothetically.
  - deleted 9y ago
    [deleted]
  - eternalban 9y ago
    "Allah and His Messenger" is a technical term. You are likely misreading this as indicating 2 distinct points of view as in "A and B both think X". > You could argue calling Allah “stupid” and an “utter maniac” might annoy him, hypothetically. It depends where you do this. In general Allah claims, very much like Krishna, to have perfect 'detachment', so arguably IT does not give a fig.

eternalban 9y ago

It is legitimate but it is also of the sophomoric category of questions. As for Islam that you mention, there are no such issues in Islam. Stephen Fry is arguing the same position that Satan does in the Qur'an, pointing out 'errors' in God's judgment. The Angels question God too in the Qur'an, but they do it very politely ..

kristianc 9y ago
Yes - and I agree with you, it's banal and in some ways a very Stephen Fryish question to ask - but asking a simplistic question is not to my knowledge, a crime.
- SomeStupidPoint 9y ago
  Well, clearly it is a crime. The debate is over if it should be a crime.
- eternalban 9y ago
  I wasn't addressing the crime bit. Positively, blasphemy laws are designed to keep such conversations limited to informed circles, and negatively of course they are a means of maintaining doctrinal control over the masses.
tim333 9y ago
Hmm... >Those who annoy Allah and His Messenger – Allah has cursed them in this World and in the Hereafter, and has prepared for them a humiliating Punishment... >They shall have a curse on them: whenever they are found, they shall be seized and slain (without mercy). [Quran 33:57–61] You could argue calling Allah “stupid” and an “utter maniac” might annoy him, hypothetically.
- deleted 9y ago
  [deleted]
- eternalban 9y ago
  "Allah and His Messenger" is a technical term. You are likely misreading this as indicating 2 distinct points of view as in "A and B both think X". > You could argue calling Allah “stupid” and an “utter maniac” might annoy him, hypothetically. It depends where you do this. In general Allah claims, very much like Krishna, to have perfect 'detachment', so arguably IT does not give a fig.