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Bible-belt Town Bans Blasphemy

Bible-belt town bans blasphemy

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - The name of the Lord may no longer be taken in vain in the Dutch village of Staphorst. Staphorst, in the so-called Dutch "bible belt" of eastern towns where religion holds sway, approved a ban on swearing by 13-4 council votes.
Ref. https://channels.netscape.com/ns/news/story...99.htm&sc=reodd

Blasphemy Bans Town Bible-belt

Far be it from me to criticize there belief system and or government. But here goes any way.

I have some questions for the people of this town in Amsterdam. Who's Gods name can they not take in vain? Does this law count for Muslims how worship Allah and revere his name in the same fashion? How about Hindus who worship multiple gods? Do you make the assumption that you know all and are right and declare by virtue of law that the Christian God is the only God and not bother with the taking the name of other gods in vain? What constitutes taking the name of the Lord in vain? Using GD would be hard to enforce because God is not Gods name. God is a title given to a being we consider all powerful. To the Muslims, Allah is God.

But to the end of this argument by me, I don't believe in your God so what gives you the right to force me to revere him? While it works great for believers, it take reverence of God out of the realm of free will and into the realm of government enforced. Not unlike the Roman Empire after Constantine and The Spanish Inquisition which also forced adherence to religious laws.

Bible-belt Town Bans Blasphemy Beliefs Religious General

Well, I don't know what the constitution in the Netherlands allows, but I don't think in the US that this law would be allowed to stand, and I don't think it should be. I believe in freedom of speech.

Of course, some will argue that this is only true if your use of that freedom doesn't infringe on my rights not to listen to obscenities. I think that excuse to force people to conform to what someone else finds acceptable is over used. There are places in the US where you can't wear a t-shirt with an offensive saying or a bumper sticker on your vehicle.

Blasphemy Bans Town Bible-belt

This is the fun part of free speech, whos' speech should be free? As konquererz and funbikerchick said I have no right to criticize the laws of the Netherlands, and to be honest I do not know their laws, but as a general rule I feel anyone should be allowed to say what they want. I have the right to walk away or give a opposing opinion though.