Law Dictionary

blasphemy

Greek blas phemein', to speak ill or evil of. Denying the being or providence of the Almighty, or contumelious reproaching of Christ; also, profane scoffling at the Holy Scripture, or exposing it to contempt or ridicule. Maliciously reviling God or religion. An offense at common law. The reviling is an offense because it tends to corrupt the morals of the people and to destroy good order. Such offenses have always been considered independent of any religious establishment or the rights of the church. They are treated as affecting the essential interests of civil society. Consists in blaspheming the Holy Name of God, by denying, cursing, or contumeliously reproaching God, His creation, His government, or final judging of the world. Commonwealth v. Kneeland, . Purposely using words concerning God calculated and designed to impair and destroy the reverence, respect, and confidence due to Him, as the intelligent creator, governor, and judge of the world. A willfull and malicious attempt to lessen men's reverence of God, by denying His existence or His attributes as an intelligent creator, governor and judge of men, and to prevent their having confidence in Him as such.

Source : William C. Anderson, A Dictionary of Law (1893)

Language : English

Return

Return to Law Dictionary Index