What IS blasphemy?

[DanielB]

I have been wondering lately whether atheist or non christians can even be (knowingly)blasphemous against God. Well it may seem obvious "Yes they can be or are blasphemous!" but from what I have heard from atheists talking about "God" it does not seem they are talking about THE God. Many seem to think the christian God is some fictional "wizard" or some "magical man in the sky"(I suspect many are just trying to be inflammatory though) so if they don't even know who they are talking about then how can they insult God? And if someone knows God and still insults him then are they not insane or broken in the head(or "heart")? So with these things in mind what is blasphemy? Is it ignorance, insanity, or something else?

[UniversalSceptic]

Didn't blasphemy in the Bible have to more with the claims that Jesus's miracles were the result of demonic influence. Jesus said that blasphemy against the Holy Spirt was the unforgivable son.

[rosered]

Didn't blasphemy in the Bible have to more with the claims that Jesus's miracles were the result of demonic influence. Jesus said that blasphemy against the Holy Spirt was the unforgivable son.

:thumbsup:

So with these things in mind what is blasphemy? Is it ignorance, insanity, or something else?

las·phe·my noun \ˈblas-fə-mē\
: great disrespect shown to God or to something holy

: something said or done that is disrespectful to God or to something holy
plural blas·phe·mies

Full Definition of BLASPHEMY

1
a :  the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God
b :  the act of claiming the attributes of deity
2
:  irreverence toward something considered sacred or inviolable
See blasphemy defined for English-language learners »
See blasphemy defined for kids »
Examples of BLASPHEMY

She was condemned by the church for uttering blasphemies.
<in the 17th century the Quakers were persecuted for beliefs and practices that older churches regarded as blasphemies>

Rev 17 ;3  Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And he brought me to the wilderness in The Spirit, and I saw a woman who sat on a blood-red beast full of blasphemous names, which had seven heads and ten horns.

[eaglesway]

Blasphemy is another thing that is a matter of degrees, the most serious of which is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit

[DanielB]

Thanks for the answers everybody.  :thumbsup:

[Eduard]

What does "taking the Lord's name in vain" actually mean? Some take it so far as to say they can never say "Oh my God!" or write "G-d". :dontknow:

[Seth]

What does "taking the Lord's name in vain" actually mean? Some take it so far as to say they can never say "Oh my God!" or write "G-d". :dontknow:

I haven't done full research on this, but I have read that "do not take the Lord's name in vain" means not to prophecy falsely. In other words, "thus saith the Lord" can be said "in vain" (empty, having no fulfillment or power) when spoken by a false prophet. If the surrounding pagan nations say "Thus saith Ba'al, it will rain if you sacrifice a virgin" (or whatever), that's using the name of a god for the purpose of prophecy in vain because there is no real Ba'al. So it is an empty usage of a god's name. The Lord is telling them not to be using his name for purposes that are vanity (useless), not to be speaking "thus saith the Lord" when he has not spoken. There are specific and very serious warnings about false prophets in the Law. It's an interesting point of view.

[marie glen]

..to me to "blasphemy" is to insult God..

[micah7:9]

Perhaps...... The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works; There is none that doeth good.
Psa 14:1  For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

[marie glen]

..this got me thinking, so I looked up the word

blaspheme Strong's Greek #987 - " to vilify (esp against God), speak impiously, defame, rail on, revile, speak evil"
and Strong's the Hebrew #5006 - "scorn, abhor" and #1288 - "to curse God"

[DanielB]

My point and question was that many atheist or believers of religions other than christianity don't have any idea who God is so to me when they think they are insulting God they are generally insulting false idols people have named "God" even though it is THE God. For example let's say that someone believes the christian God is just like Westboro Baptist church seems to believe he is and they insult the idol that is more like Baal or Moloch than our true God. There are better things to do than insulting nonexistent idols but I doubt it is blasphemy at least not against (our real)God. It does seem that blasphemy is done out of ignorance or some other foolishness born out of ignorance. But I wonder if non christians are even capable of blasphemy or at least capable of blasphemy in the same way christians are if non-christians only know of idols.

[Eduard]

Good points Daniel.  :thumbsup:

[rosered]

My point and question was that many atheist or believers of religions other than christianity don't have any idea who God is so to me when they think they are insulting God they are generally insulting false idols people have named "God" even though it is THE God. For example let's say that someone believes the christian God is just like Westboro Baptist church seems to believe he is and they insult the idol that is more like Baal or Moloch than our true God. There are better things to do than insulting nonexistent idols but I doubt it is blasphemy at least not against (our real)God. It does seem that blasphemy is done out of ignorance or some other foolishness born out of ignorance. But I wonder if non christians are even capable of blasphemy or at least capable of blasphemy in the same way christians are if non-christians only know of idols.

Your right , the only things they lack are  faith and being  born again        without this  much   , they are still  as dead  men walking  and  yet to be raised up 
dead  men know nothing  and are NOT accountable   

     where there is no law there is no sin 

Romans 5

12Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world,

and death through sin,

and so death spread to all men, because all sinned-- [ erred and missed the mark ]


13 for until the written  Law sin was in the world,


but sin is not imputed when there is no law.


14  Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the offense of Adam,


who is a type of Him who was to come.

  But have they heard  of the Lord Jesus Christ  , faith comes by hearing ?
  Two edged Sword / Word  of God   that divides and separates  the dead from the living    .

[marie glen]

Didn't blasphemy in the Bible have to more with the claims that Jesus's miracles were the result of demonic influence. Jesus said that blasphemy against the Holy Spirt was the unforgivable son.

I've wondered if the unforgiveable sin is to habitually harden one's heart against God to the point it becomes a deeply engrained habit and response so until that is 'broken' they cannot recieve forgiveness..

My point and question was that many atheist or believers of religions other than christianity don't have any idea who God is so to me when they think they are insulting God they are generally insulting false idols people have named "God" even though it is THE God. For example let's say that someone believes the christian God is just like Westboro Baptist church seems to believe he is and they insult the idol that is more like Baal or Moloch than our true God. There are better things to do than insulting nonexistent idols but I doubt it is blasphemy at least not against (our real)God. It does seem that blasphemy is done out of ignorance or some other foolishness born out of ignorance. But I wonder if non christians are even capable of blasphemy or at least capable of blasphemy in the same way christians are if non-christians only know of idols.

I've wondered if the psyche of man is more active than we realize.. don't we all know deep down that the creator is not and cannot be a monster? However to insult Him, I do not believe is the unforgive-able sin or none of us could be forgiven.. don't all humans at some point in life "blame" God / insult Him, for all that is wrong in life and in one's own life..?