Continuing to today, many (so-called good and fair) religious people consider it a "crime" properly punishable by torture and death, for one to use the name of their favorite deity in vain - but would not the jurisprudent principle of "habus corpus" force them to produce proof of their particular god, before feeling justified in killing the person in question?  I am so confused here!
129795
To say blasphemy is a victimless crime is blasphemy all in itself. I don't consider it to be punishable by torture or death though. I don't think I've ever heard of it being punishable...not saying that in some religions it isn't. I would never kill a person for blaspheming my God. He can do that for himself.\n The only blasphemy I know to be punishable is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit because it hurts God
49717
The only way that they could find him guilty of it is that they have a law against it.  They could not possibly found him guilty and fined him if it were not against the law.  They side with the newspapers for the sake of freedom of speech, which is also a law throughout most of the Western World.  The fact that Europe has laws in many countries against speaking out and denying the Holocost is because they had concentration camps in their countries and many of their citizens were either killed or worked there.  These laws are on the books in these countries out of respect for what has happened in History.  This is not a difference of Muslim and Jew, these are two completely different things.  The Muslim belief that the Holocost is a myth is unfounded, however that is the way you feel.  It just happens to be against the law to talk that way about it publicly in some countries.  The cartoons that has enraged the Muslim world were not meant to be religious cartoons but political statements, it happens that they were in bad taste because Muslims are not wanting to look beyond the insult of their Prophet's Image being used.  That is a problem when you are dealing across different cultures.  In hindsight I am sure all involved with these cartoon's wish they had never happened and most will not allow that to happen again, however in our culture we allow for these kind of things when dealing with freedom of the press and speech.
540159
doing violence in the name of God  outside the will of God probably qualified as a type of Idoloty... something many need to repent of .. but htis question is not specific enough\n\ndepends...  did they repent... do they have saving faith or a cold religiousity withough love for thier neighbor  Killed is not the same as murder...  self defence would not be.. killing someone just  to make a statement  would be murder\n\nIf I give my body to be burned and have not love it profits me NOTHING 1 Corinthians 13  so I would say if the motive is a bitterness below the surface toward non muslims... definately outside the will of God and probably idoloty\n\n.. on the other hand there can forgivness from even murder through Jesus...."the blood of Jesus (the redeemer from the cross) speaks better than the blood of Abel (a murdered person)  Hebrews\n\nI guess they would have to turn to the Messiah Jesus, glorifying God by leaning on his work on the cross  believing for eternal life
257266
Proof that our "friend" is a hypocrite and a mental case, see above.\n\nI ask myself every time I read the Bible, what does this mean FOR me.
148715
It is hypocritical i agree. it is condemnable to give capital punishment for conversion and i support their stand who were keeping tab on a 16 year old case of conversion. but I doubt if that man would have been in jail for conversion to any non christian relegion would it have attracted so much concern? \n\nmost of the organization in Afganistam  are looking out for their interests. the type of humanists you are looking for are not many and those who claim to be one do not go at such places where monetary benfits are absent and risk to their life is many fold.
32970
Morals and Laws Dilema... hmmm. Like killing on "Self Defense".\n\nWell, wich one comes first to you? the law or your morals?\nThe state recognizes God, "in god we trust" is read in some parts... And the bible recognizes the law (Romans 13.1).\n\nI would broke the law, and if i were to be punished in a court of law, would use the morals as a shield. That is always well seen in courts; morals.
671038
Yes, I think it's a big deal, and I am NOT offended to find those words on our coins.  It is one of the very few places that God is still honored in our country.  Should we invalidate the Declaration of Independence, or the Bill of Rights, because they make reference to God?  No!  This country was founded in Christianity, and although I do firmly believe in freedom from religious persecution, I think we've gone way too far on the other side... it is now the Christians who are persecuted, our prayers are not allowed, the very basic principals that this country was founded on are litigated, and all by people claiming to be offended by it... well, you know what?  In many other countries, being the "wrong" religion can get you jailed and executed.  We allow you the God-given right to disagree, but what right do you have to change  who we are?!?!  This country was founded on Christian principals, and you have the right to live here and not be a Christian (although I pray for those lost souls), but that does not mean that you have the right to interfere with my rights, either.  Keep God in all that we do, to honor our forefathers, and honor our FATHER.
511376
They'll tell you it's original sin. What I want to know is that if it's divine justice to punish an entire species for the sins of the ancestors, why aren't Christians proposing this as a means of jurisprudence? If your great grandfather killed his wife sixty years before you were born, YOU get to go to prison for it? If it's God's way, why don't Christians insist we do it on Earth?\n\nI REALLY hope I don't put ideas into some fanatic's head with that one....
349826
You've gotta be kidding!  What kind of a father would send his son to die an excruciating death on the cross in order that others are no longer responsible for their own sins?  What kind of a God would send most of his followers to eternal punishment for not "believing?"  What would you think of human fathers who would act in this way?  Loving or vicious?\n\nThe OT God is a God of justice.  Each of us is punished in accordance with the sins we've committed.  The OT God doesn't differentiate between "beliefs" of Christians, Muslims, atheists, etc., but He does insist on self responsibility!
368393
I'm an atheist, first of all.\nI have a couple of problems with your question:\n-By what standard does the punishment fit or not fit a crime? How can you sum up the cost of adultery, homosexuality, and other sins, since their cost(loss) to society differs based on the culture.\n-You cannot compare stoning with a "possibly future punishment" of lasting torment.
76211
Nah.  I tend to question any links between God and any religious organization that relies heavily on violent means to an end.  To me, if the basis for any religion is not the promotion of world peace, harmonious existence, and peace with nature, the religion is not a true reflection of God's will.
283852
I got the joke... it's not all bad.\n\nBut I don't know if it is such a good idea to joke about this. It may seem strange to us today that there should be ANY limit on free speech. But this is THE BOTTOM to push if one wish to engage a Muslim in a death dual.\n\nThe law of their religion is full of sins punishable by death. Not unlike our religion BTW. The difference is that, they still feel obligated to carry out that punishment.
571753
When a Christian or a Jew kills someone his religion is not mentioned, but when Muslim is charged with a crime, it is Islam that goes to trial! When someone sacrfices himself to keep others alive, he is noble and all respect him. \nBut when a Palestinian does that to save his son from being killed, his brother's arm being broken, his mother being raped, his home being destroyed, and his mosque being violated -- He gets the title of a terrorist! Why? Because he is a Muslim!
447187
there is a passage in the bible of the ten commandments that says that you cannot kill anyone, but there is also something in christianity and other religions that are trying to classify this sorta thing as a "Just War", which means that it's acceptable based upon justifiable cause. it's like in Islam they have what is known as Jihad (which has a few different meanings) but is commonly known as a "holy war" and is allowed because it's a 'just war'. they feel that it is the right thing to do because of the severity.
457834
It seems like people are avoiding the issue. What's being asked is if you will unquestioningly submit yourself to God. Whether you think God would want you to perform said action or would not be able to do this without you is not in question.\n\nIncident: God tells you to kill someone.\nYou are a self-admittedly insignificant being who could not begin to understand God. Whatever his motivation be, God has told you to do this.\n\nDo you comply?\n\n(My answer's no by the way, but I'm not religious so this question probably was not directed at me. I just think that some of the people passing judgement here are being hypocritical.)
211560
People have always used 'God' as a reason to be cruel.  It's just a way of making others small so you can feel big.  You have to make someone else so wrong in order to feel that you actually exist, or at least so you don't feel totally insignificant.  I don't know if you can give an answer to why.  It just is that way, people are hurt and angry and who knows what experiences they have had with so called 'religion'.  Why take it personally?  It's not about you.
315502
A very good question.\n\nNobody likes to think their loved ones are bad people or that their own heaven will exclude the things or people that they love. It is a no win argument, either the God/Gods will punish the wrong doers and in the process do evil to the person who did no wrong, or the God/Gods have to forgive everyone for their crime and heaven will be open for everyone even if they don't believe.\nMaybe there is a true God that does not punish and the Gods we all hear about are all just the Devil, making threats and forcing people to follow them. Even more radical would a true loving God exclude anyone? or even judge people?