The Future of blasphemy
Subtitle: speaking of the sacred in an age of human rights
By: Austin Dacey
Publisher: Continuum
Published: 2012
Place of publication: London
Language: eng
Number of pages: 196
ISBN-13: 9781441107374; 9781441183927
Subjects: Blasphemy; Religious aspects; Freedom of speech
Description: "In the days of Moses, blasphemy was the mortal offence of failing to respect the divine. In an age of human rights, blasphemy is understood as a failure to respect persons, as insult, defamation, or "advocacy of religious hatred." The criminalization of this personal blasphemy has been advanced at the United Nations and upheld by the European Court of Human Rights, which has asserted a universal "right to respect for religious feelings." The Future of Blasphemy turns respect on its head. Respect demands that we grant each other equal standing in the moral community, not that we never offend. Politically, respect for citizens requires a public discourse that is open to all viewpoints. Going beyond the question of free speech versus religion, The Future of Blasphemy defends an ethical model of blasphemy. Controversies surrounding sacrilege are contests over what counts as sacred, disagreements about what has central, inviolable, and incommensurable value. In such public contestation of the sacred, each of us - secular and religious alike- has equal right to speak on its behalf"--P. [4] of cover.
Notes: Includes index.

Includes bibliographical references (p. [143]-181) and index.
Table of contents: title: Combating the defamation of religions; title: Sacrilege; title: Respect; title: Rights; title: Idols; title: Postcript: on moral luck and cattle riots.