EVER since the new blasphemy law came into effect in Ireland on January 1, a number of Irish folk have been racing each other to put this absurd piece of legislation – plucked straight from the Middle Ages – to the test.
One of the exhibits at the blasphemy exhibition
According to this report, non-believers have been challenging the Government to prosecute them (There’s a €25,000 fine involved).
Ireland’s atheists were among the first out the gate with the publication of 25 “blasphemous” quotations by sources as diverse as Mark Twain, Salman Rushdie, Bjork, Mohammed and Jesus (Yes, Jesus. All a person needs to do to break the blasphemy law is say or publish anything “grossly abusive or insulting in relation to matters held sacred by any religion, thereby causing outrage among a substantial number of the adherents of that religion“Â – and Jesus did that. (You can find all 25 quotes here).
And here's another
Then, On Good Friday (April 2), a new art exhibition entitled Blasphemous opened at the Irish Museum of Contemporary Art (IMOCA) in Lad Lane, off Baggott Street, Dublin 2.
It was the second exhibition in Ireland to thumb its nose at the blasphemy law  - but artists are hardly the only segment of the population dissatisfied with it. Under mounting pressure, Dermot Ahern, the Irish Justice Minister who proposed the blasphemy law, has said he will propose a referendum, later this year, to remove the reference to blasphemy from the Irish Constitution; a move that would allow the law to be repealed.
So far, no-one has had their collar felt by the garda.
Here’s a video about the new Blasphemous art exhibit in Dublin. It features interviews with the artists and a look at some of their work (most of which seems pretty tame compared to what appeared in this exhibit in London last year).
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLn4t9y0FY0[/youtube]
Hat tip: William Harwood
The Freethinker was founded in 1881 by GW Foote, an outspoken critic of religion. After the publication of 
April 7th, 2010 at 2:33 pm
As against book-burning as I am, I must admit I’m sorely tempted to do so with this bible thing. Well, there are other, arguably more blasphemous uses for it, which I have done. The bible paper actually makes good rolling paper for cigarettes.
April 7th, 2010 at 2:45 pm
@Janstince: That reminds of my days living in South Africa.I had two Bibles on my bookshelf. Inside one was a hollowed out space in which the hash was concealed. The pages of the other were used to roll spliffs. Leviticus was the first to go up in smoke.
April 7th, 2010 at 9:17 pm
^^holy smoke
hey couldn’t somebody manufacture bible toilet paper??
April 7th, 2010 at 11:49 pm
@ZombieHunter
Isn’t the bible already toilet paper? Used toilet paper at that since it’s covered in crap.
April 8th, 2010 at 4:09 am
It does make a better toilet paper than magazines or newspaper. Strange camping trips in college.
April 8th, 2010 at 6:32 am
I think they spent too much time and enegy offending christians. There are so many more targets out there. Why “Fuck Christmas” and not “Fuck Ramidan”?
By the way, JW bibles make the best rolling papers. You can actually see through the pages. You can drop out of school, lose your job, get evicted from your apartment, and be arrested for pissing in public before you even get past creation. The beauty is the cops don’t take it away from you.
NeoWolfe
April 8th, 2010 at 10:41 am
As the creator of ‘Fuck Christmas’ I’m pleased to answer your question Neowolfe. The piece relates to a specific event which is detailed at the exhibition, which I’m assuming you haven’t attended.
April 8th, 2010 at 10:45 am
No way, Gideons bibles are perfect fag paper. Lovely texture to the pages.
April 8th, 2010 at 7:02 pm
Farley,
No, I was not in attendance. I hope that doesn’t make me a bad person. I used the “Fuck Christmas” as an example, because all of the pieces on display in the video seemed to be directed at Christendom. I loved the exhibit, and I’m sure there’s a great story behind the inspiration. I wasn’t being critical, I was just saying the problem we face as freethinkers is bigger than Christianity.
NeoWolfe
September 7th, 2010 at 7:06 am
I prefer to use bibles for target practice have you ever seen what a Remington 870 can do to one.