Religion & the Blasphemy Principle

One of the ‘human goods’ necessary for real happiness is religion: the performance of duties expressing and strengthening the friendship between human beings and God. Many are uninterested in religion, describing themselves as non-believers or atheists. Often, however, their view of religion or God is badly distorted: they do not really know the thing they are claiming to disbelieve. A real atheist has studied philosophy and theology and soberly decided the evidence for God is so weak that religious claims are utterly false. There are few such atheists.

Since religion is a human good, to seek to destroy or impede this friendship with God is always morally wrong. People do this by actions like tempting God, sacrilege, idolatry, superstition, buying or selling spiritual things (‘simony’)—all sins against the First Commandment. Even graver is blasphemy: speaking against God himself, or ridiculing things consecrated to God or held sacred. Blasphemy does not harm God, but they do harm his name or reputation and show contempt for him. Blasphemy is a sin against the Second Commandment, and a violation of the Blasphemy Principle: never blaspheme...