Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Can the Truth be Blasphemous?

Henry MacDonald in The Guardian:
MAN FACES DEATH THREATS FOR POINTING OUT THAT WEEPING JESUS "MIRACLE" IS JUST FAULTY PLUMBING

When water started trickling down a statue of Jesus Christ at a Catholic church in Mumbai earlier this year, locals were quick to declare a miracle. Some began collecting the holy water and the Church of Our Lady of Velankanni began to promote it as a site of pilgrimage.

So when Sanal Edamaruku arrived and established that this was not holy water so much as holey plumbing, the backlash was severe. The renowned rationalist was accused of blasphemy, charged with offences that carry a three-year prison sentence and eventually, after receiving death threats, had to seek exile in Finland.
I imagine this will settle down soon enough, but meanwhile, pity the rationalist agitator who merely tells the truth.

Interestingly, part of Edamaruku's case is that he is being charged under a law passed by the British in 1860, which he says conflicts with the free speech protections in India's post-independence constitution.

No comments: