Is blasphemy the greatest sin?

[kiki1982]

Like ElViejo said, blasphemy is dishonouring God in one's speech and Jesus was accused of blasphemy. Blasphemy, in essence, is a man-made sin, for me.
We do not know what God wants from us, so we cannot know if he will be angry if one dishonours him in His speech and what He considers as 'dishonour' in itself anyway. Furthermore, as God is not human, we cannot assign to him human feelings as dishonour, anger, disapproval. If we do not know God, as such, how can we say He feels dishonoured when spoken about in a certain way? If God is love, then surely He does not get excited about petty things as 'dishonour'.
If Jesus was accused of blasphemy, how can that be if He was the son of God? Did the Jews not have the right God to believe in? That cannot be right, because they were created by that same God. For a time the Catholic Church has claimed to be the only true religion, but on that note, they have come back.

To me, blasphemy, is more an utterance of over-piety of the accuser than it is a real sin.
Killing is a sin, stealing is a sin,... but those things are all universally wrong anyway and are disapproved of in all societies. Blasphemy has no definition and no moral ground apart from a human non-universal one. And thus for me it cannot be a sin, far less the greatest sin. It is man-made 'sin' out of fear, which should not be felt for God if God is love.

This was an interesting question...

Now, don't think I am over-pious as well... I sometimes get scorned on another forum for religious assertions about certain works. Religion is not very popular and somehow unreligious people can't stand religious people, I have the impression. I have no problem in this scientific world and I embrace everything and do not se God in every plant and every little cobble stone as some Christians do, but I do have certain beliefs which I do not hide.

[Ohmyscience]

What constitutes as blasphemy in the absolute sense? I am not religious therefore can I possibly be accused of blasphemy if I were to mock something I do not believe in?

I often poke fun at all religions indiscriminately and for the most no one has accused me of blasphemy. Should I be made aware of it I would stop but is mocking and censuring God really that serious? I would think an all loving God would have an all loving good sense of humour.

Is there ranking of sins in the bible which go most severe to just three hail marys and you're forgiven. Perhaps someone in the catholic church ought to in order to shut up the self righteous followers and make them more aware of cardinal sins.

[kiki1982]

Actually blasphemy is not even in the list of cardinal sins!

I didn't know that, but wikepedia helped out ().

There are seven cardinal sins (formerly eight, which pope Gregory in 590 reduced to seven):
lust, gluttony, greed, sloth (spritual apathy), wrath, envy and pride

they correspond with the seven virtues:
chastity, temperance, charity, diligence, patience, kindness, and humility

They could be forgiven by either absolution of a priest or remorse on the subject's side.

Although... blasphemy is maybe included in one of them: wrath which is hatred or anger, which can manifest itself by denial of the truth. self-denial or frustration with the procedure of the law.
In essence, blasphemy could be seen as 'denial of the truth' or even an extreme act of pride, but that is a subjective questions which fundamental Christians would probably address, but which more liberal ones would just pass by.

[lupe]

Indifferently from each one metaphysical concerns and beliefs, there is something which I personally find extremely disturbing in some posts discussing the idea of “blasphemy”. Countless persons throughout human history have been singled out, punished, tortured and even killed, just because they had the courage to mark their opposition to the established religions. From Socrates to Rushdie, the suffering cause by those who pretend to represent the Truth has been enormous.

Some of the posts above show a deep disrespect to all those victims of religious power and persecution. And - even worse – they might reveal what would be the stance of their authors, in case they had the opportunity to take action against the “blasphemous”.

[skasian]

I have to ask, are there different levels of sins in God's eye, or are they all equal? To us in this world, stealing is seen as a lesser sin than murder. But that is to our senses. What about God, does He thinks this way too? If all sin is equal to Him, stealing or bulling next door kid be would be nothing more than the same sin as blasphemy.

[Rush_of_Blood]

and if so, why?
is saying that God doesn't exist equal to all sinful actions?

RC Sproul did a wonderful job of answering this question. Here's his thoughts.

"Scripture says that Christ stated the unforgivable sin as being blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Can you expand on that?......"

There's alot of confusion over the sin that Jesus says cannot be forgiven either in this world or in the world to come.....I think Jesus is clear. He does identify it. He says that the sin is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. What does that mean? First of all, let's understand that blasphemy is a sin that can only be done with words. It's a sin that you commit with your mouth or with your pen-- it's a verbal sin. It has to do with saying something against the Holy Spirit. You remember that the religious leaders--the clergy, the Pharisees, and the Sadducee s-- were the ones who were constantly being hostile toward Jesus and stirring up a conspiracy to do him in. They plotted to kill Jesus, and they were constantly attacking him and charging him with this and that. On one occasion they said that Jesus was casting out Satan by the power of Satan. It's almost as if Jesus said, "Hold it right there, guys. I've been patient with you, I've been tolerant with you, I've been long-suffering with you, but you are coming perilously close now to making an accusation against me that's going to wipe you out now and forever." He said that any sin against the Son of Man can be forgiven, but if you blaspheme against the Holy Spirit ( to ascribe the work of the Holy Spirit to Satan, or equate them), you've had it. Notice also, that when Jesus was on the cross, he prays for those very men who have put him there:"Father forgive them---" Why? "--for they know not what they have done.".........[Also] if you read the book of Hebrews, you'll see the distinction between blaspheming Christ and blaspheming the Holy Spirit fall away.

[blazeofglory]

Blasphemy is not a sin. However one should not be critical of others' religions as long as they are not fanatical.

[krymsonkyng]

Claiming belief in any one god is Blasphemous against the rest. Claiming belief in multiple gods is blasphemous against the jealous one(s).

Pick your poison ladies and gents, we're all blasphemers by definition. The question isn't whether or not you're a sinner or to what degree, in someone's eyes you are wrong. The question is, "What do you think is right, and wrong?"

Really that's the only truth you can count on, and do count on whether you admit it or not.

[Redzeppelin]

By "greatest" I will assume you mean the worst sin, perhaps the "unforgivable sin."

Technically, all sins are equal in God's eyes - all are a violation of relationship - either to Him or to other people. That doesn't mean the violators are judged equally, but that there really aren't such things as sins that are "worse" than others in God's eyes.

Jesus tells us that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is unforgivable. Most commentators/theologians explain this to be the sustained and persistent refusal to heed the Holy Spirit's conviction on the heart of the individual's need of God. To refuse to acknowledge God's ownership and authority over us is rebellion.

In other words, the unforgivable sin isn't a one time comission - it is created over time. Many pastors will tell you that if you are worried if you've done this, you haven't done it. Those who commit the unforgivable sin don't care.

Claiming belief in any one god is Blasphemous against the rest. Claiming belief in multiple gods is blasphemous against the jealous one(s).

Not if my God is stronger than the others

Pick your poison ladies and gents, we're all blasphemers by definition. The question isn't whether or not you're a sinner or to what degree, in someone's eyes you are wrong. The question is, "What do you think is right, and wrong?"

Really that's the only truth you can count on, and do count on whether you admit it or not.

So right and wrong are my subjective opinion, right?

Then why should I take your expressed opinion as having any truth in it whatsoever, since it has no inherent "rightness" (or "truth") in it?

You're not trying to state a universal truth - are you - by claiming that there is no universal truth? That wouldn't make any sense whatsoever.

[krymsonkyng]

Not if my God is stronger than the others

Only if Divine Might makes right.

So right and wrong are my subjective opinion, right?

Then why should I take your expressed opinion as having any truth in it whatsoever, since it has no inherent "rightness" (or "truth") in it?

You're not trying to state a universal truth - are you - by claiming that there is no universal truth? That wouldn't make any sense whatsoever.

Opinion and truth are not synonymous my friend! It's exactly why you prolly don't believe me. Opinion is an observation made of truth; merely a perception. Truth is reality. Or should be. That's the difference between what is Objective and what is Subjective.

All we know is what we are seen and told. Whether we realize it or not we live life through the lens of our upbringing, and bias' not through hard tacks truth. There is a degree of uncertainty in anything we perceive (even if that degree is minuscule). This is why it is incredibly hard to approach Objective knowledge. It's why Science isn't always accepted. Science is observation over belief. Religion is belief through observation. You pegged me though -it is true- I am a firm believer in soft beliefs.

But I digress...

My point is, the question is being approached from a purely christian point of view. A good point of view to take if you happen to be christian, but if you believe in a different god, everyone else is the blasphemer/sinner.

I agree though, sin is a label, not a degree. The severity of denying any one god would be too intense if that were the case. When you think about it though, it kind of is. People kill over opposing religious viewpoints. If denial can only lead to conflict, then maybe blasphemy is the root of many sins, but not the greatest. Either way, both sides in opposing viewpoints blaspheme against the other...

Edit: I see I used truth too loosely in my first post. Thanks for catching that red Replace truth with philosophy plz...

[Babyguile]

It is the most ridiculous crime.

[blazeofglory]

What constitutes as blasphemy in the absolute sense? I am not religious therefore can I possibly be accused of blasphemy if I were to mock something I do not believe in?

I often poke fun at all religions indiscriminately and for the most no one has accused me of blasphemy. Should I be made aware of it I would stop but is mocking and censuring God really that serious? I would think an all loving God would have an all loving good sense of humour.

Is there ranking of sins in the bible which go most severe to just three hail marys and you're forgiven. Perhaps someone in the catholic church ought to in order to shut up the self righteous followers and make them more aware of cardinal sins.

I subscribe the ideas expressed here. For everyone is at liberty to beleive or not beleive and this is not a sin. Sins happen when you injure others. Or you do something amoral, unethical.

People can be altruistic, benign without being religious.

[MarkBastable]

Blasphemy is not a sin. However one should not be critical of others' religions...

Why not?

[Judas130]

God is perfect, and can see no sin - nor is he aware of it.

[grotto]

The biggest sin is to say, “I believe”, in it comes the birth of all sin.