Blasphemy law: what it is, where it works. Meaning of the word blaspheme

Who vilifies supreme god speaks badly of holy and sacred scriptures,

get cancer of the tongue and become deaf.

The one who chews scriptures and destroys spiritual literature,

gets stomach ulcers and cancer.

"Garuda Purana".

Blasphemy as a quality of a person is a tendency to blaspheme God, vilify, offend holy personalities, sacred scriptures and dogmas of faith.

One goldsmith was sitting in his shop at a workbench and, while working, constantly remembered the name of God in vain: either as an oath, or as a favorite word. A certain pilgrim returning from holy places, passing by a shop, heard this, and his soul was indignant. Then he called out to the jeweler to come out into the street. And when the master left, the pilgrim hid. The jeweler, seeing no one, returned to the shop and continued to work. The pilgrim called out to him again, and when the jeweler left, he pretended not to know anything. The master, angry, returned to his room and began to work again. The pilgrim called out to him for the third time, and when the master came out again, he again stood in silence, pretending that he had nothing to do with it. Then the jeweler in a rage attacked the pilgrim: - Why are you calling me in vain? What a joke! I have work up to my throat! The pilgrim peacefully answered: - Truly, the Lord God has even more work to do, but you call on Him much more often than I call on you. Who has the right to be more angry: you or the Lord God? The jeweler, ashamed, returned to the workshop and has kept his mouth shut ever since.

Surely most readers, starting to read this article, assume that the author will begin to describe a long list of punishments for insulting God. I hasten to disappoint you. God is absolutely indifferent to rude, insulting statements addressed to him. When the Supreme Personality of Godhead comes, he will say, “Don't worry about those who hate and blaspheme Me. They will come to Me. When a person thinks of me with malice or hatred, he is still purified.

God does not need the protection of earthly justice. A person, even thinking badly about God, is purified. If a dirty person gets under the shower and just stands, he will still clean up a little, despite the fact that he did not use soap and a washcloth. A hypocrite, forced to constantly play the role of a decent person, in the end, can become one. Actors know that when you get used to the role from the outside - with the help of certain movements, gestures, facial expressions, natural for this case emotions.

Consider Friedrich Nietzsche's thought on how the appearance created by hypocrisy becomes reality: "The actor, in the end, can no longer stop thinking about the impression of his personality and the overall stage effect, even during the deepest suffering, for example, at the burial of his child ; he will weep over his own grief and its manifestations, as if he were a spectator of himself. A hypocrite who constantly plays the same role ceases to be a hypocrite in the end - for example, priests, who usually in their youth are consciously or unconsciously hypocrites, eventually become natural and then become just genuine priests, without any affectation: or if this the father cannot yet achieve, then the son probably does, who manages to use the father's successes and inherit his habit. When someone wants long and hard seem something, then as a result it is already difficult for him be anything else. The profession of almost every person, even an artist, begins with hypocrisy, with external imitation, with copying effects. The one who always wears a mask of affability on his face must, in the end, acquire power over a benevolent mood, without which it is impossible to achieve an expression of affability - and as a result this mood in turn takes possession of him - he really becomes benevolent."

Now the idea of God that it does not matter in what plane a person speaks or thinks about God becomes clear. The main thing is to think, and not just remember in vain. Love or hate is a question of the level of consciousness. It's worse when you don't believe at all.

A completely different color has a bad thinking about the saints. God Himself in many places in the Bhagavad Gita says that you can offend Me, there is no problem, but if you offend a holy person, then you will be fully responsible for this. God doesn't accept it. God accepts insults against him, but he does not accept insults from a saint.

Torsunov O.G. states: “It is safer to offend God than to offend a saint. Therefore, if a person hates a holy person, he degrades to the very lower forms life… How to neutralize the force that causes degradation? You just need to come, ask for forgiveness from this saint, and that's it, nothing else is needed. All sins will be destroyed. If a person does not do this, he will continue to degrade inevitably and very strongly ... Therefore, if you want to associate with holy people, you must first learn to be humble. Otherwise, then there will be the opposite effect, everything will be the other way around, complete degradation will come.

The earthly punishment for blasphemy was constantly changing. Initial Roman law did not provide for punishment for blasphemy. The basis for this was the view that any God, by definition, is so strong that he himself is able to punish the person who offended him, and the very idea of the need to protect God with the weak forces of people is already blasphemy (Deorum injuriae diis curae - Emperor Tiberius) .

In Christianity, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is considered a radical form of blasphemy, which, unlike any other blasphemy, is not forgiven. Now most spiritual traditions adhere to the ancient Roman view of blasphemy, recognizing that God is outside the sphere of human relations, inaccessible to criminal encroachments and does not need the protection of earthly justice; non-fulfillment of the rules of faith and rites of worship cannot be the subject of judgment of a secular court, which is incompetent in assessing the convictions and requirements of conscience.

In addition, it was recognized that coercion to fulfill the requirements of religion by state punishment humiliates, first of all, religion itself and leads to hypocrisy and unbelief. Criminal laws can and should protect the church as a society of believers, protect its peaceful existence, the law can prosecute for showing public disrespect for the dogmas and rites of religion, since this violates the interests and rights of individuals, can punish for violating decency in churches and prayer houses, for obstruction of the free celebration of worship, etc., but in all these cases the object of the crime will not be God, faith or religion in general, but individual believers or the church as an institution recognized and protected by the state. The process of transition of the majority of civilized states to a secular state also played its role, as a result of which religious institutions lost to a large extent the levers of influence on the political and legal system of states. In the criminal laws, the concept of "blasphemy" was replaced by "insulting religious feelings", the severity of punishment for which is significantly less than in the old days for blasphemy.

However, in states where the legal system has not adopted these foundations of Roman law in relation to religion, blasphemy still remains a crime for which punishment can be imposed, up to the death penalty. This is how it is in Islamic states. In Islam, blasphemy against God is recognized as one of the gravest sins (along with apostasy), and according to Sharia law, it is punishable by death by stoning.

Petr Kovalev 2014

What does blasphemy mean to Orthodox Christian? Is it a sin, what is the punishment for it and is it considered blasphemy?

These questions are extremely important for a Christian who cares about his spiritual condition and strives to grow and know the Lord, so you should study these questions in detail and give detailed answers to them.

Origin and meaning of the word

What is blasphemy in Orthodoxy? This word is known to everyone and is often used even in a joking conversation, but what does it really mean? Its closest synonyms are the words "outrage", "blasphemy" and "blasphemy". Different dictionaries interpret blasphemy in different ways:

Wikipedia:
- mockery in relation to a person, which consists in ridiculing his expensive and important things;
- an insult to a religious feeling or shrine.
Modern vocabulary:
- insulting the feelings of believers;
- desecration of an expensive and revered object for someone.
New dictionary:
- an insult to the shrine for believers.
- desecration of something revered.
Great Encyclopedia of the USSR:
- mocking attitude to the subject of faith;
- mockery and mockery of people's memory, the discoveries of science and art, human exploits, morality, etc.

Explanatory dictionary of the Russian language

Under the rule of the imperial family in Russia, blasphemy was equated, just like blasphemy, with a crime against faith. Despite the fact that these concepts can be quite broadly explained.

Blasphemy and blasphemy in Orthodoxy

Today, the word "blasphemy" has a lot of synonyms, but earlier, before 1917, they all had a specific meaning. For example, "sacrilege" was used to describe the terrible deeds of the barbarians - the robbery of graves and sacred temples, which violated all sorts of moral laws.

But “tatba” is theft or a crime against church property. This is where the “holy-tatism” came from, that is, the abduction of a shrine in 1653, when the word began to mean in general a religious crime in the same way as “blasphemy”.

"Sacrilege" initially defined a disrespectful attitude towards church rituals and the rules of Christianity. Today, these are all related expressions that speak of a violation of morality and a disrespectful attitude towards faith.

how Orthodox person respond to blasphemy?

What is blasphemy in Orthodoxy and how should a believer react to such behavior? The noun "blasphemy" is also a verb at the same time (to blaspheme), having same value- an act that offends the feelings of religious people.

Important! According to Scripture, a blasphemer is one who is a defiler and a mocker. A blasphemer in Orthodoxy is a person who is dismissive and sarcastic against the object of worship and veneration of another person. The one who “sows” slander, mocks and mocks, does not properly perform the rites established by the church or does not respect God's word and commands.

They also distinguish blasphemy against a person - an irreverent attitude towards the ministers of the Church, causing harm, desecration by the words or actions of a person serving in the field of God.

Such blasphemy may include:

action against chastity;
beating of a clergyman;
bringing ministers to justice according to civil laws, and not according to the canons.

What does blasphemy mean to a believer? For any Orthodox Christian, the Lord is Lord, King and Father. He saved people through His Son Jesus Christ and He alone is revered. When someone allows Him to be mocked, to speak insultingly about the Church and believers, all this causes pain to the Christian and, of course, offense.

On the spiritual life of an Orthodox Christian:

Nobody wants to insult and vilify relatives, family, dear people and things, but some people consider it their duty to humiliate another. Christianity is a religion of love, it was Christ who commanded people to “Love your neighbor as yourself” and in this commandment there is no exception for blasphemers and blasphemers.

Advice! Everyone should love. However, one should no longer communicate with such people or listen to them. It is worth asking the Lord for them and praying for their salvation, but in no case should you respond verbally or, moreover, with your hands!

The sin of blasphemy and blasphemy

The Church throughout its existence has repeatedly been subjected to insults and reproach. If in the first centuries people who accepted Christ as their Savior were killed, crucified and put to death by any means, today they try to humiliate and insult their feelings.

How does the Lord react to the sin of blasphemy and is there a punishment for such people - important question, but no less important is the question of how believers should respond to such actions?

At the last Bishops' Council of the Church in 2011, a program document was developed and adopted, which contains a plan of action in case of slander against the Church and blasphemy. First of all, it describes the differences between constructive criticism of the Church and insults to it. In particular, it explains what exactly is considered blasphemy - a conscious attempt to humiliate religious shrines, sacred to Orthodox believers, expressed verbally or by specific actions.

Bishops' Cathedral Churches

That is, if humiliation is directed at a particular clergyman as a person, then this is not considered blasphemy, but if he is ridiculed because of the faith that he professes, then this is already a sin of blasphemy, since the Holy Spirit, present in every believer, is humiliated.

Important! It should also be remembered that the Church is an organism, and by insulting one of its members, the whole organism is offended.

Punishment

The guilt of the blasphemer grows depending on the size of the shrine that he blasphemed. For example, insulting a Christian is less sinful than insulting the Lord and more than defiling an inanimate object (an icon, a temple, etc.). If a person allowed a mockery of something sacred in his heart and did not repent, then the Fear of God begins to leave him, which leads to the aggravation of sin, as it is written in Scripture " And as they did not care to have God in their minds, God betrayed them to a perverted mind - to do indecency» (Rom.1:28).

Public disrespect for any subject related to Orthodox faith, is blasphemy and falls under the definition of "insulting the feelings of believers", regardless of what exactly is humiliated (a person, an icon, a shrine, etc.). There are several penalties for doing this:

God's punishment - if a person does not repent of his act, then the Lord will allow punishment for such a sin into his life.
Legal or state based on the amendment "For insulting the feelings of believers."
Punishment by believers, based on legislation on their rights and freedoms, which involves the protection of a person's views, including religious ones, from humiliation.

If in the time of Moses blasphemers were stoned by society (Leviticus), today believers can use appropriate measures for protection, which begin with excommunication from the Church and end with demands for the deprivation of liberty of such a person.

At the same time, it should be remembered that the blasphemer harms not God, but himself, because by doing so he deprives himself of eternity and subjects the soul to a terrible punishment - the deprivation of God's mercy. Therefore, such a person, first of all, needs pity, but must be punished.

There are two extremes in regards to blasphemy:

Indifference, which sooner or later will lead to the acceptance and repetition of these actions by the believers themselves;
Hatred of mankind, when believers are ready to use even force to punish a blasphemer.

These are two wrong paths that will only bring anger and resentment, but will not be able to correct the attitude.

Advice! In case of humiliation, a Christian should take an example from Christ - when He was reviled, He answered humbly and meekly, but wisely, which baffled the offenders.

So Christians should respond and defend their faith, but do it meekly and wisely so that offenders cannot find the strength or intelligence in themselves to answer.

A sermon on the folly of evil and God's favor on man

Dictionary Ushakov

Blasphemy

blasphemy blasphemy, cf. (church). Scolding, defamation of God.

Bible encyclopedia arch. Nicephorus

Blasphemy

(Lev 24:11-16) - one of the most serious sins, consisting in pronouncing bold and blasphemous words against God and God's providence. According to the law of Moses, blasphemy was punished with death, namely: the guilty one was taken out of the camp and stoned to death (Lev. 24:15-16). Between kinds of blasphemy, especially grave sin blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (Mt 12:31, Mk 3:28-30), according to the commandment of the Savior: “every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven people either in this age or in the future” (Mt 12: 31-32). Namenei and Alexander, mentioned in the 1st Epistle of St. Paul to Timothy (1:20), were given over to a terrible punishment by the apostle for blasphemy, and in the future, according to the word of God, the judgment of such people does not delay and their death does not sleep (2 Pet. 2:3, Jude 8-15).

Bible Dictionary to the Russian Canonical Bible

Blasphemy

blasphemy (Matt.9:3; Matt.26:65; Mark.2:7; Mark.7:22; Mark.14:64; Luke.5:21; John.10:33,36; 1 Tim. 1:20; Rev.13:1, 5) - reproach, insult to the name of God. In Matthew 9:2-3 the scribes considered it blasphemy even to attempt to do the work of God and speak in the name of God. ( cm. ).

Orthodox Encyclopedic Dictionary

Blasphemy

insulting God and shrines, one of the most serious sins. Christ warned that "blasphemy against the (Holy) Spirit will not be forgiven men" (Gospel of Matthew 12:31).

Culture of speech communication: Ethics. Pragmatics. Psychology

Blasphemy

blasphemy against God, against that which is connected with faith in God. Either way, it's unethical. The subject shows his spiritual and moral unworthiness or ignorance and thereby causes decent people to have a negative attitude towards themselves not only during this communication, but also for a long time later. You should not enter into an argument with a blasphemous adult, make a remark to him: having learned about your position, he will also treat you badly.

An expedient reaction is a calm and brief expression of rejection of the statement or an eloquent disapproving silence.

Orthodox Encyclopedia

Blasphemy

one of the most serious sins, which is the utterance of words of blasphemy against God and God's Providence. In accordance with the Law of Moses, blasphemers were put to death. The culprit was taken out of the city or camp and publicly stoned to death. The heaviest of blasphemy is the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. The Savior Himself said the following about this: “Every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven people. neither in this age nor in the future” (Gospel of Matthew 12:31-32).

Bible: Topical Dictionary

Blasphemy

♦ blaspheme against God

BUT. How blasphemy is committed:

♦ speeches against God:

Lev 24:11,16; Mt 26:64,65; Acts 6:11

♦ speeches against the word of God:

♦ idolatry:

Nehemiah 9:18,26; Ezekiel 20:27,28

♦ church persecution:

♦ oppression of the poor:

♦ blasphemous names:

B. Blasphemy Ordinances

♦ prohibited by the law of God:

Ex 20:7; Ex 22:28

♦ punishable by death:

Lev 24:13-16,23; Mt 26:65,66

AT. Reasons for accusing Jesus of blasphemy

♦ forgave sins:

[blasphemy], a grave sin and an ecclesiastical crime subject to ecclesiastical bans; in the broad sense of the word, not only a direct blasphemy against God, but also any crime against faith.

In the OT, the punishment for blasphemy against God is the death penalty: “... whoever speaks evil of his God will bear his sin; and the blasphemer of the name of the Lord must die, the whole society will stone him: whether a stranger, whether a native, will blaspheme the name [of the Lord] ... ”(Lev 24. 15-16). In the NT, the Lord calls blasphemy against the Holy Spirit the most unforgivable sin: “... every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven people; if anyone speaks a word against the Son of Man, he will be forgiven; but if anyone speaks against the Holy Spirit, he will not be forgiven either in this age or in the next” (Mt 12:31-32). The blasphemy against the Holy Spirit means the rejection of God's grace and thus the conscious acceptance of the side of the demonic forces in their opposition to the Divine will and grace, while the "word against the Son of Man" means the non-recognition of the Sonhood of Jesus Christ, which can come from ignorance and therefore does not exclude the inner change of a person, repentance and conversion to faith in Christ.

In the canons of the Orthodox Churches B. in the proper sense of the word is not mentioned, although they provide for prohibitions on religion. crimes that can be considered as B. in the broad sense of this concept, in particular, an arbitrary denial of Christ or a renunciation caused by torment or fear of impending torment. Such renunciation in the era of persecution of the Church in the Roman Empire often involved public blasphemy of Christ as well. More directly related to B.'s crime is the rule of St. Basil the Great, which, however, does not contain any sanction: “If someone, having taken the name of a Christian, offends Christ, there is no benefit to such a name” (Basil. 45). The interpretation of the content of this rule in the sense of condemning the sin of B. is not generally accepted. There is an interpretation, according to St. Basil the Great speaks here not of verbal blasphemy against Christ, but of non-observance by those who were baptized in their lives of God's commandments as blasphemy against God (cf.: Basil. Magn. In Isaiam proph. I 31).

Medieval. canon law catholic. The Church has carefully developed theme B. On the one hand, it sees a criminal act only in the case of public blasphemy, since it contains the intent of seducing those present to fall away from Christ, on the other hand, broadly interpreting this church crime, reckoning to it, in addition to blasphemy against God, reproach Mother of God and saints, thereby bringing heretics and later Protestants under the accusation of B., and extends the concept of B. to worship and any invocation of the name of God in vain, as well as a false oath - a case when an oath is given with the intention not to fulfill it.

Rome. state criminal law, according to the principle “deorum injurias diis curae” (insulting the gods is the concern of the gods themselves), did not provide for punishment for B., but in the era of persecution of the Church, contrary to this principle, Christians, among other things, were accused of the crime of B. and even atheism, under which Rim implied their disrespect for Rome. gods.

Christ. Roman emperors established criminal penalties for crimes against Christ. religion and the Church, including those for B. In the 77th short story, St. imp. Justinian I says: “Since some, in addition to sorcery, also utter blasphemous words, an oath, swearing, which arouse the wrath of God, we appeal to these people with a warning so that they refrain from such actions, keep the fear of God in their hearts and imitate people morally living, because as a result of such deeds, persecution, an earthquake and a plague are sent to the country: therefore, the guilty are subject to imprisonment and then the death penalty, so that peoples and entire states do not perish from the connivance of such crimes.

Medieval. criminal law Zap. Europe provided for B. the heaviest punishments, usually the death penalty, including through burning. From the 16th century penalties for this crime are mitigated: the death penalty is replaced by corporal punishment or fines. In the XVIII century. most European criminal law. state-in no longer provides for the death penalty for B., the scope of this crime changes (in particular, swearing is excluded from it), and its nature is interpreted differently. So, in Austria under imp. Maria Theresa (code 1768) B. is still regarded as the gravest crime, the essence of which lies in insulting the Deity, which can attract the wrath of God to the government that allows it and to the whole country, but already with imp. Joseph II (1787 code) is interpreted as a crime against the interests of religions. community, threatening public outrage. The perpetrators of B. were subject to compulsory placement in an asylum for the insane until repentance and correction. In the code of revolutionary France of 1791, crimes are absent at all. In the criminal legislation of most states in the twentieth century. B. is not considered a crime, while some of its manifestations may be subject to criminal liability as an infringement on the legitimate interests of religions. communities and believers.

In legal sources Dr. Russian religion. crimes are first mentioned in the Church Charter of St. Vladimir, where the jurisdiction of the court of the metropolitan and bishops included consideration different types sorcery (“witchcraft, herbalism, perform, sorcery, sorcery ... toothache”), as well as “heretics”, “church tatba, the cross will be flogged”, the performance of pagan rites: “who prays under a barn, or in a grove, or by the water” ( Russian legislation X-XX centuries 1984. Vol. 1. S. 149). Similar provisions on the jurisdiction of religions. crimes to the bishop are contained in the church charter of the Novgorod book. Vsevolod Mstislavich (XII century). However, B. in the proper sense of the word is not discussed in these, as in later acts.

Punishment for B. for the first time in Russian legislation is provided for by the Council Code of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich (1649), the 1st chapter of which is called “On blasphemers and church rebels”. In particular, it says: “There will be someone of other faiths, whatever faith, or a Russian person, will lay blasphemy on the Lord God and our Savior Jesus Christ, or on His Most Pure Lady Our Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary, or on Honest Cross, or on His saints, and about that, look for all sorts of detectives firmly. Let it be found out for sure about that, and having reproved that blasphemer, execute, burn it. And what will be some disorderly person who comes to the Church of God during the Holy Liturgy, and whatever the custom, Divine Liturgy he will not let him do it, and having confiscated him and found out about him for sure that he will do this, he will be executed by death without any mercy ”(1985. Vol. 3. p. 85).

Criminal law imp. Peter I divided the crime of B. into 2 types depending on the object of the blasphemy: blasphemy of the name of God, as well as St. the sacraments entailed burning the tongue, and then cutting off the head, and reviling the Mother of God, saints and Orthodox. faith - cutting off the joint or the death penalty. The death penalty or confiscation of property was punishable, according to the "Military Article" (1714) of Peter the Great, and failure to report B. "Military Article", however, finds grounds for leniency, if the crime does not contain intentional blasphemy and "the words of this scolder ... only out of frivolity happened." In this case, the perpetrator is punished by arrest for 14 days and the deduction of a monthly salary in favor of the hospital or with gauntlets, but the commission of this crime three times already entails the death penalty by firing squad (1986, vol. 4, p. 329).

Under Empresses Elizabeth Petrovna and Catherine II, among the punishments for B., the death penalty was abolished. Relig. crimes were carefully developed in the preparation of the Code of Laws Russian Empire 1832, where they are collected in the 2nd section. 1st book. XV t., and blasphemy occupies the 1st ch. this section.

In the "Code of Criminal and Correctional Punishments" of 1845, sect. Chapter 2 is entitled “On Crimes Against Faith and Violation of the Ordinances Enclosing It,” Chapter 1. section - "On blasphemy and censure of faith." According to the Code, blasphemy against “God, or our Most Pure Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, or the Holy Cross, or the incorporeal powers of heaven, or the holy saints of God and their images” in the church is punishable by the deprivation of all rights of state and exile hard labor in the mines for a period of 12 to 15 years, as well as punishment with whips and branding, if the perpetrator is not exempt from corporal punishment. A similar blasphemy, uttered not in a church, but in a public place, entails the deprivation of all rights of state and exile in hard labor in factories for a period of 6 to 8 years, as well as punishment with whips and branding. A person convicted of committing the same crime not in a public place, but in the presence of witnesses and with the intent to shake their faith, is punished with deprivation of all rights of property and exile to a settlement in the most remote places of Siberia, as well as whips (Ibid. 1988. Vol. 6. P. 213 ). Failure to report such crimes, according to the Code, is punishable by imprisonment for a term of 6 months to 1 year or arrest from 3 weeks to 3 months. Guilty of publicly uttering words "having the form of blasphemy or reproach to the saints ... or censure of the faith and the Church", but who did this without intent, but due to foolishness or drunkenness, is subjected to imprisonment in a strait house on different dates, but not more than 2 years, as well as in more severe cases, deprivation of certain rights and benefits. Blasphemy, blasphemy of saints and censure of faith and the Church in printed or even written, but distributed writings entails the deprivation of all rights of the state and exile to a settlement in the most remote places of Siberia, as well as punishment with whips. Moreover, both authors and distributors of such works, including booksellers, are punished.

In the “Criminal Code” of 1885, the provisions of the “Code” of 1845 were generally preserved. In the criminal law, early. 20th century B. is treated as one of the most serious crimes, but the punishments provided for those guilty of this crime are mitigated, as they are mitigated for all other crimes.

In criminal law Soviet era in view of the separation of the Church from the state, the atheistic policy of the state. power and discrimination against the Church there was no place for such a crime as B. Moreover, B., including in the most cynical form, was officially encouraged, amounted to feature atheistic publications, especially in the 20-30s, on the pages of w. "Atheist", as well as at the turn of the 50-60s, during Khrushchev's persecution of the Church.

The Criminal Code of the Russian Federation of 1996 does not include B. in the list of crimes. But indirectly, individual cases of B. may be subject to criminal liability if, for example, they also contain insult to religion. feelings, arousal of religions. enmity, obstruction in the commission of authorized worship, acts of vandalism.

Lit.: Belogrits-Kotlyarevsky L . WITH . Crimes against religion in the most important states of the West. St. Petersburg, 1886; Russian legislation of the X-XX centuries: In 9 vols. M., 1984-1988.

Prot. Vladislav Tsypin

Smart people, even if they are atheists (and this combination is quite rare), still refrain from blasphemy. Yes, just in case. And it's not just the fear of the possible punishment of the Almighty. Anyone strives to ensure that, if possible, not to offend others, among whom there are sincerely believing people.

Laws are not written for smart people who already know in most cases what to do so as not to cause moral or material damage to others. It is quite natural for a morally healthy member of society to strive to live honestly, not to steal, not to kill, not to blaspheme. It is in the very nature of human communication. However, there are, unfortunately, examples of a different attitude to public morality, when intervention is simply necessary.

In pre-revolutionary Russia, Orthodoxy was state religion, but at the same time a tolerant attitude was created towards the Gentiles, who made up a significant part of the population of the empire. There were cases of aggressive xenophobia, but the authorities did everything to stop them. At the same time, no one, regardless of the professed denomination, was allowed to blaspheme. This meant the inadmissibility of disrespectful use of the name of God and the public expression of disrespect for religious dogmas.

During the period of large-scale social transformations that followed the October Revolution of 1917, the primordial values developed over the centuries were actively violated. Children were forced to disown their parents, brother was against brother, and people were forced to blaspheme. This was done in order to create a new religion, which had its own holy relics in the mausoleum on Red Square, its own “red Easter” - May Day, and an analogue of Christmas - Anniversary great revolution November 7th. Insulting, however unintentionally, the new relics brought punishment much more severe than that of blasphemy in times past. The evidence could be a newspaper used for hygienic purposes (there were also problems with pipifax), if a portrait of one of the leaders was printed on it.

The law on blasphemy in Russia is designed to protect the rights of those who profess the values that are traditional for our multi-ethnic and multi-confessional society. First of all, it concerns the Orthodox community, which, despite its large number, shows a tolerance for vandalism that is rare in our time. Would try" Pussy Riot» sing and dance in the mosque…