Blasphemy facts for kids
Blasphemy is a word that means speaking badly about a religion, or insulting a god. Many countries with a state religion have laws that make blasphemy a crime. For example, blasphemy can be punished with the death penalty in Saudi Arabia or Pakistan. In other countries, the punishment for the crime is a fine, or imprisonment.
Some countries do not have laws against blasphemy. For example, after the French Revolution, France made blasphemy legal to make sure people would have freedom of religion and the freedom of the press.
In the United States, Canada, and many European countries, the law protects people who speak badly about religion. Sometimes people do this in a satirical way, like with a movie that makes fun of a religion. In these countries, cursing is often protected by freedom of speech as well.
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Images for kids
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Sufi teacher Mansur Al-Hallaj was executed in Baghdad amid political intrigue and charges of blasphemy in 922.
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Nathan confronts David over his relationship with Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah the Hittite, saying "by this deed you have given occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme" (2 Samuel 12:14)
See also
In Spanish: Blasfemia para niños
