There was outrage — in some circles, anyway — when the news broke several weeks ago that the Obama administration had essentially aligned our nation with the Egyptian government’s efforts to stifle free speech. There has been an effort on the part of Muslim regimes to make it illegal to speak out against Islam; after all, why meaningfully address issues such as (a) the gross injustices of coerced conversions to Islam, (b) the brutal mistreatment of women around the world, and (c) the truth that Jihadist butchery has been a fundamental element of Islam since the time of Mohammed — to cite just a few examples — if one may simply legally coerce all opposition into silence? After all, the curtailing of free speech may not be quite as effective as imposing sharia law on the Western world, but it would keep the imams happy for a while.

Jonathan Turley, a professor of Law at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. wrote in the USA Today:

Around the world, free speech is being sacrificed on the altar of religion. Whether defined as hate speech, discrimination or simple blasphemy, governments are declaring unlimited free speech as the enemy of freedom of religion. This growing movement has reached the United Nations, where religiously conservative countries received a boost in their campaign to pass an international blasphemy law. It came from the most unlikely of places: the United States.

While attracting surprisingly little attention, the Obama administration supported the effort of largely Muslim nations in the U.N. Human Rights Council to recognize exceptions to free speech for any "negative racial and religious stereotyping." The exception was made as part of a resolution supporting free speech that passed this month, but it is the exception, not the rule that worries civil libertarians. Though the resolution was passed unanimously, European and developing countries made it clear that they remain at odds on the issue of protecting religions from criticism. It is viewed as a transparent bid to appeal to the "Muslim street" and our Arab allies, with the administration seeking greater coexistence through the curtailment of objectionable speech. Though it has no direct enforcement (and is weaker than earlier versions), it is still viewed as a victory for those who sought to juxtapose and balance the rights of speech and religion.

Presumably the whole issue of anti-Islamic ‘blasphemy’ laws is a little confusing for the American left. Still, those who have built a career touting “free speech” in defense of anti-Christian obscenity and pornography have often simultaneously supported ‘politically-correct’ speech, which aims at reshaping the categories of thought by making certain forms of expression socially unacceptable, or even illegal. This is what an entire movement has come to: those who once took up the slogan “speaking truth to power” end up supporting a President whose policies support the anti-free speech agenda of vicious tyrants who silence their opponents with a gun shot, branding them “apostates.”

The absurdity of the position taken by the Obama administration is that while it is attempting to present the issue as if it were simply an international extension of American notions regarding the fight against racism, the truth is that any sort of ‘international blasphemy law’ acceptable to the world’s Islamic regimes would in fact prove impossible to ratify in the United States in the form of a treaty because it would de facto criminalize any expression of orthodox Christianity.

How could this be? To cite one example: Although Islam purportedly honors Jesus as a ‘prophet,’ a central tenet of the Christian faith — that Jesus is both divine and human, the incarnate Son of God — is universally rejected as blasphemy by Islam. Any of the historic creeds of the Christian Church would by definition be rejected by Muslims as blasphemy.

Part of living in a free society is tolerating the right of citizens to believe what they will, according to the dictates of their own consciences. Individuals may even celebrate “Blasphemy Day”— even as those who disagree with them retain the right to denounce such a non-holiday.

The nightmare of the international blasphemy law which Obama and the Muslims are pushing is that it denies this fundamental right. As Turley observes,

Thinly disguised blasphemy laws are often defended as necessary to protect the ideals of tolerance and pluralism. They ignore the fact that the laws achieve tolerance through the ultimate act of intolerance: criminalizing the ability of some individuals to denounce sacred or sensitive values. We do not need free speech to protect popular thoughts or popular people. It is designed to protect those who challenge the majority and its institutions. Criticism of religion is the very measure of the guarantee of free speech — the literal sacred institution of society.

Turley is right. Freedom of thought and freedom of expression are fundamental human rights — and a key element of this freedom is the ability to say that you believe that someone else’s position is wrong. The advocates of blasphemy laws wish to restrict this freedom to themselves alone: they would sit above all of us, dictating what may be said and thought on the most fundamental questions which confront us as human beings. No greater tyranny is imaginable than to seek to compel another man’s conscience through coercion of law.

Rt. Rev. James Heiser has served as Pastor of Salem Lutheran Church in Malone, Texas, while maintaining his responsibilities as publisher of Repristination Press, which he established in 1993 to publish academic and popular theological books to serve the Lutheran Church.  Heiser has also served since 2005 as the Dean of Missions for The Augustana Ministerium and in 2006 was called to serve as Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of North America (ELDoNA). An advocate of manned space exploration, Heiser serves on the Steering Committee of the Mars Society. His publications include two books; The Office of the Ministry in N. Hunnius' Epitome Credendorum (1996) and A Shining City on a Higher Hill: Christianity and the Next New World (2006), as well as dozens of journal articles and book reviews.
 

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DDW said:

	This is an outrage!!! Wake up America!!! Stand up and fight!!!
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October 23, 2009
Votes: +7

RP said:

... "...those who have built a career touting “free speech” in defense of anti-Christian obscenity and pornography have often simultaneously supported ‘politically-correct’ speech, which aims at reshaping the categories of thought by making certain forms of expression socially unacceptable, or even illegal." Can you say "hypocrite"? Obama wishes to silence critics of Islam. Obama wishes to silence critics of Obamacare. Obama wishes to silence critics of cap and trade. Obama wishes to silence critics of his socialist agenda. Obama wishes to silence those who question where he was born and how he got his high priced education. He is working harder than any of his predecessors to silence any and all critics. THIS is the "change you can believe in"!

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October 23, 2009
Votes: +11

A A said:

	... THIS is the "change you can believe in"! ??? Oh, I thought it was "Change "What" you believe in" "This is an outrage!!! Wake up America!!! Stand up and fight!!!"
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October 23, 2009
Votes: +6

Still Free said:

He's dishing out the Change ... This from the man who will NOT produce his birth certificate ... This from the man who cannot give a speech without a tele-prompter ... This from the man who used the Internet to get elected ... This from the man who was pro-ACORN before becoming POTUS ... This from the man who is pro-abortion ... This from the man who bows to dictators ... This from the man who welcomes dictators to our country ... This from the man who is friends with "Rev." Jeremiah Wright ... This from the man who is friends with Chavez (where showers stop after 3 minutes!)... This from the man who wants Obamacare (a tool to cull the rolls of S/S recipients)... ... and on and on it goes ... Wake up America before it's too late. Get some moxie and "Stand up and fight!!!"

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October 24, 2009
Votes: +4

S Bailie said:

Do your homework you conservative parrots. Michael Posner Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor Had to say Yesterday: the notion that a religion can be defamed and that any comments that are negative about that religion can constitute a violation of human rights, to us, violates the core principle of free speech which is so central to us in our own system. Do your research before you stir up people with your screwed up religious agenda. http://www.puckertime.com

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October 27, 2009 | url
Votes: +0

jofus said:

against unfair treatment i have had enough of the obama terrorist administration i pray that all of them give THeir heart to JESUS CHRIST they think that allah is the supreme god but he doesnt exist the only god there is is the GOD OF ABRAHAM ISAAC AND JACOB THE FATHER OF JESUS CHRIST AND WITHOUT THE BLLOD OF JESUS ON YOUR HEART HELL IS YOUR HOME TO BURN IN A LAKE WHICH BURNETH WITH FIRE AND BRIMSTONE FOR ETERNITY. plus obama doesnt have this countrys interest at heart he should be impeached he was born in africa and doesnt have a viable birth certificate all he wants to do is take control of this country we have the constitutional right to overthrow THe govt and i think we should it is not for the people anymore it is for the greed of the politicians to line their pockets with the taxpayers money and make useless attempts to dismantle everything our forefathers worked so hard for the american govT is full of crooked people and im appalled at the fact that obama is allowed to promote terrorism and stay in office i have heard enough of what washington has to say. we need to put GOD FIRST!!!!!!!!!!1

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October 28, 2009 | url
Votes: +3

jofus said:

... well we have a muslim for president and they run all of the gas stations they are trying to take the country over from the inside we need to run them back where they came from and americans need to stand up and pitch a fit not lay down and take this throw obama out of office impeach him!!!!!!!!!!!!! remove him from office he is not an american and his health care is the most inhumane thing i have ever heard if they pass this they need to be incarsirated and imprisoned the govt is trying to take control of the people this is not cuba.

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October 28, 2009 | url
Votes: +2

jofus said:

... i want to apologize for some of my harsh comments because i know that all people dont have to believe like me i just want this country to be free for everyone. our forefathers came here to escape religious persecution and now we are fighting for the same thing, everyone should have the right to believe how they wish not to have other beleifs imposed on them i mean noone any harm i just want to keep my rights and everyone else keep theirs and some of the things i said were a little harsh and i dont hate anyone i want everyone to go to heaven

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October 28, 2009
Votes: -1

jofus said:

i had no business im sorry for whoever i may have offended with my comments please take no offense i had all of this on my mind and it all came out wrong we need to concentrate on the core values of the nation and the homeless and those losing work and help each other i am not really a bad person i just want to promote JESUS CHRIST IN ALL THAT I DO AND SAY AND I DIDNT DO THAT IN THOSE PREVIOUS MESSAGES AND AM ASHAMED OF MYSELF I SINCERELY APOLIGIZE FOR MY ARROGANCE!!!!!!! i just dont want to see the rights of americans trampled on. because all foreigners that come here legally are americans my previous comments lead on that i am racist and i am not because everyone comes here escaping something and we all need to share this great nation like it was intended for. we need to help each other and put an end to evil hunger greed the very things that are tearing this nation down we are to concerned with ourselves and not the needs of others. I SINCERELY LOVE YOU ALL WHO ARE READING THIS AND, MY PRAYERS GO OUT TO YOU AND I HUMBLY APOLOGIZE FOR MY HYPOCRISY!!!! I NEVER MEANT TO HURT ANYONE!!!!!

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October 28, 2009 | url
Votes: -1

MoniQue said:

Blasphemy law IS BLASPHEMY Jesus is Lord! No apologies, no begging, no pleading, and unashamed! “And they have defeated him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of their testimony. And they were not afraid to die.” -Revelation 12:11 So don’t fear the illuminati or man who can destroy only the body: FEAR GOD! For Jesus said, “I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. “But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him!” [Luke 12:5] For it is also written: “It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the Living God.”~Hebrews 10:31

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November 16, 2009 | url
Votes: +0