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Irish Atheists Use Carlin to Flout Law on Blasphemy

Zappa, Bjork and Jesus also make list of no-no quotations

By John Johnson,  Newser Staff

Posted Jan 2, 2010 11:27 AM CST

(Newser) – An atheist group in Ireland thinks a new law against blasphemy is "silly and dangerous," and it's using everyone from Jesus to George Carlin to support its case. The Atheist Ireland website has put up 25 quotes it says would run afoul of the 2-day-old law, which forbids "publishing or uttering matter that is grossly abusive or insulting in relation to matters sacred by any religion." Those convicted face a fine of about $35,000.

The group hopes to challenge the law in court, notes the Guardian. On its list is one from Carlin: "Religion easily has the greatest bullshit story ever told." Bjork: "Fuck the Buddhists." Jesus, telling Jews: “Ye are of your father the devil." And, of course, Frank Zappa: "To hang all this desperate sociology on the idea of The Cloud-Guy who has The Big Book, who knows if you’ve been bad or good ... that, folks, is the chimpanzee part of the brain working.”

An undated file photo of Frank Zappa.
An undated file photo of Frank Zappa.   (AP Photo, File)
FILE - This undated file photo originally released by HBO shows George Carlin in a promotional photo for his HBO special, Its Bad For Ya.
FILE - This undated file photo originally released by HBO shows George Carlin in a promotional photo for his HBO special, "Its Bad For Ya".   (AP Photo/HBO, Robert Sebree,file)
Bjork performs in 2007.
Bjork performs in 2007.   (AP Photo/Jon Super)
Bjork performs in 2007.
Bjork performs in 2007.   (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 51 comments
IndependentThinker
Jan 4, 2010 6:03 AM CST
@tomodachi: Einstein was not a believer in God and the others you mentioned lived in the times of ignorance and oppression from the religious powerful.
Galileo
Jan 3, 2010 12:24 PM CST
You should probably make a useful point before you rest your case.
Galileo
Jan 3, 2010 12:20 PM CST
Thanks Phio. @ kirei - Unfortunately, what other people believe is important. The reason for this is because many (not all) theists do not keep their belief private, but instead seek to push it into the lives of others and even make it law. Opposition to gay marriage, opposition to embryonic stem cell research, and opposition to abortion rights are all rooted in "what other people believe." If we were to adopt a naive attitude of "let's not fight to each his own," then it wouldn't be too long before creationism would be taught alongside evolution in school. I'll never seek to stop someone from privately believing what they want, I only ask that they don't try to make it public policy or law. Those other people can feel free to teach their kids creation stories at home, but sorry, the rest of us want the schools to teach actual science. This is what it matters.

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