Blasphemy: It’s Not Just for “True” Believers Any More- Part I

Thou Shalt, and Shalt Not: The “Do’s” and “Don’ts,” for the Righteous and Unrighteous

In Mel Brook’s 1981 classic film, “The History of the World,” Moses is depicted descending from Mt. Sinai with not one, or two, but three stone tablets. A booming voice cries out, ordering him to deliver fifteen commandments of the Lord’s holy writ to his chosen people. “I shall give these laws unto thy people,” Moses obediently replies.

But, as Moses clamors over the rocks and cries out, “The Lord, the Lord Jehovah, has given unto you these fifteen …” he stumbles and drops one of the three tablets, shattering it to bits. He quickly amends his pronouncement, reducing the number to only ten; leaving one to wonder, perhaps, which commandments got omitted …

On the other hand, perhaps it’s all quite arbitrary and does not matter. By one count, the Torah went on to institute at least 613 laws, consisting of 248 “thou shalt” commands, and 368 “thou shalt not’s.”

Then, turning to the canonical New Testament of the Christian faith tradition, in one instance Jesus is attributed with saying he wasn’t there to abolish, but fulfill, the Law (Mt. 5:17). But then, in other gospel accounts, he’s condemned for breaking the law about keeping the Sabbath “holy” when he goes about the laborious task of healing the afflicted (Mark 3:1-6). So, which is it?

It all leaves me wondering even further which of the laws and commandments might be dismiss-able, forgivable or unforgivable; since most of us mortals have certainly broken more than a few of them.

In this case, in particular, I’m referring to one of those prohibitions; namely, taking the “Lord’s” name in vain.

Part I: About Blasphemy

A few weeks ago, a former U.S. president who still wants to believe there were some of his opponents who broke one of those other familiar commandments – “thou shalt not steal” — declared in a live interview, “If Jesus Christ came down and was the vote counter, I would win California, ok?” Donald then continued to elaborate, “In other words, if we had an honest vote counter, a really honest vote counter … I would win California.”

Now, some political postulators might question this one particular candidate’s ability to distinguish fact from fiction, truth from falsehood, honesty from dishonesty. But the same thing might be said of some religious types, as well. So, my own personal and immediate reaction to this particular quote was not to simply dismiss Trump’s claim as just one more example of political buffoonery; but to mutter under my breath, what sheer blasphemy.

A little used term these days, blasphemy laws actually have deep historical roots in both secular culture, as well as religious circles. By one common definition, it refers to an insult that “shows contempt, disrespect or lack of reverence for a deity or object considered sacred, or something considered inviolable.”

So, by definition, what would you personally deem to be blasphemous in your own worldview?

What would you personally deem to be blasphemous in your own worldview?

I would start with my own interpretation and understanding of that ancient “thou shalt not” commandment about taking the Lord’s name in vain. 

And, to begin with, one might remember the derivative, common root word to this alleged mortal infraction is vanity.  In other words, invoking the Lord’s name always runs the risk of committing an act of self-conceit, so beware!

So, rather than start with one’s own importance of self in our allegations and assertions — or even petitions we might utter to an imagined deity — it might behoove us to instead remember and strive to identify and define our own “self” by who we consider to be the “lord” and master of our life. That is, to whom – or what — would we bear allegiance; with the life-values we say we not only believe, but actually embrace, honor and emulate in our own life.

In this regard — if ever I would invoke the name of Jesus — I would try to remember and remind myself who that ancient Galilean peasant sage was, and remains; in my best understanding of who he was, what he said and did.

~ John Bennison

 

Footnote: Yes, there are many “Jesus” characters; including the historical search of that ancient figure, and in the multitude of subsequent belief-systems that subsequently emerged from this particular faith tradition.  In a number of my earlier commentaries (e.g.,  “What Kind of Jesus” (2011), or “If I Called Myself a Christian” (2017) I elaborate further on this topic.

 

© 2024 by John William Bennison, Rel.D.  All rights reserved.
This article should only be used or reproduced with proper credit. To read more commentaries by John Bennison from the perspective of a Christian progressive go to the Archives

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