ban blasphemy?

Today, a discussion flared up in the media following statements by Dutch minister Donner, urging that the criminal law on “scornful blasphemy” be taken seriously once again.
The chance that this remark will make any real impact is, by the way, virtually nil, since even colleagues within the government immediately pushed back against the minister. As expected.

For many, it is hard to adjust, but the time is past when the Christian segment of the population could impose its views on society.
Now that Christians themselves have become a minority, they should be glad if they are simply granted the freedom to live and speak according to their convictions.

One thing became immediately clear: statements like those of minister Donner mainly provoke irritation among the majority of the population, who have collectively cast off the yoke of religion.
It is the same irritation Lot once stirred up in Sodom.
“This one came in to sojourn, and is judging, yes, judging!” cried the angry townspeople (Genesis 19:9).
Attempts to “lay down the law” will have the opposite effect.
Minorities lose their goodwill in society as a result.

This morning, when I heard the minister’s motives on the radio for tightening the screws, I also noticed a twist in his reasoning.
Blasphemy should more often be punishable because it “offends the deepest convictions of believers.”
But that is absurd! Blasphemy should be punishable because God is being blasphemed. Period.
But no—the point is that the religious segment of the population is being offended.

The question naturally arises: what does Donner mean by “blasphemy”?
How do we define that in a multi-religious landscape?
Is it about blaspheming the one God, or about any deity whatsoever?
In the latter case, the Bible itself would have to be banned immediately!
“All the elohim of the peoples are idols,” it says in Psalm 96:5.
That’s blasphemous language toward all gods and offensive to all idol worshipers.

Or what about Elijah, who mockingly ridicules Baal on Mount Carmel?
I wonder whether the minister also wants to ban such language…

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