Hold Your Tongue, Vile Heathen!

The three brave members of the Russian punk band Pussy Riot were today jailed for two years, following a political protest in the form of an unscheduled musical addition to a religious service. Passing sentence, the judge remarked that the defendants had 'offended the feelings of orthodox believers'.

Some years ago, former UK MP Ann Widdecombe defended British blasphemy law, justifying her stance by claiming that 'anything goes' unless there is a law to control what may or may not be said about anything to do with religion.

So, no-one may voice an opinion in the presence of religious believers, if that opinion might question the veracity of their beliefs. Why do such people support such a law?

The answer is quite simple. If dissenting voices are silenced, believers need never face their questions. They can simply shelter within the anechoic chambers of their churches, safe in the knowledge that they will never be called upon to think for themselves. Perish the thought that believers might have to substantiate the assertions of their holy books against searching, sceptical inquiry.

Does the reverse apply? Is there a law against offensive statements BY the church? If there were, then the Pope would have been brought to book for the comments of his clergy that have contibuted directly to the spread of HIV in Africa. Practically every Christian cleric would have been called to account for offending all thinking people with the suggestion that we each bear personal responsibility for the actions of a fictitious lady who allowed herself to be persuaded by a talking snake. Teachers and others who have terrified children with the insane and sadistic notion of hell fire would similarly have cause to view every passing police car with apprehension.

Ye gods, the civilised world must surely do all it can to protect religious believers from ever having to think independently. They deserve to have their beliefs safeguarded by seal of law, exempt from question. This must be so, for if it were not so, those beliefs might be shown as the vile farrago of lies, deceit and self-interested wish-thinking that they are.