Today is the 2nd international Blasphemy Day (see my post from last year). It was originally an idea of CFI as a free expression initiative, however based on the latest loony directions taken by CFI they’re likely to wash their hands of it. Anyway, onward we go, CFI or not.
You might have noticed I haven’t done a blogging-the-bible for a while and that’s because I want to give that project a rest. Reason being, I think there is heaps of great analysis of the Bible in the blogosphere so I’d just be a voice amongst thousands. What I can do that’s a bit more unique is to provide an atheist perspective on Judaism itself, including halacha (Jewish law), the Talmud and so forth. The types of blogs that do this are typically within the Jewish blogosphere, whereas I’m blogging from a more general perspective. I might come back to blogging-the-bible at some point but for now there will be a broader view.
And so, rather than draw some cartoons or swear at deities directly, I’ll discuss the Jewish concept of blasphemy. It’s especially interesting as an illustration of the misconceptions that exist about Judaism within the general public. The misconception is that Judaism is based on the Bible (or at least the Jewish Bible). While this is partially true, the Bible is seen entirely from within the lens of the Talmud and rabbinic literature — which is usually a very very different view than the one you might get cracking open the Bible directly, or being a Christian, or debating a Christian as an atheist.
The Bible is clear that blasphemy is one of the most eggregious sins, punishable by death. Here is Leviticus 24:16 — “And he that blasphemeth the name of YHWH, he shall surely be put to death; all the congregation shall certainly stone him; as well the stranger, as the home-born, when he blasphemeth the Name, shall be put to death.” Note that this law comes after a specific incident where two men are quarelling and one appears to curse the other in YHWH’s name (which may imply this is only about cursing). Also “blaspheme” is standard for a non-Jewish translation but I’ve found it rendered as blasphemously pronounce.
And therein lies the crux: the rabbinic interpretation is that you have to actually blasphemously pronounce YHWH (a name whose pronunciation has apparently been forgotten anyway). There are more restrictions. Here is the Talmud on blasphemy.
Sanhedrin 7:5 The blasphemer is not liable until he states the Name. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Korha said, Every day they judge the witnesses with a substitute name: “Yose will smite Yose.” If the judgment is concluded, they do not kill with a substitute name but rather they send out each person and ask the greatest among them, and they say to him, “Say explicitly what you heard,” and he says; and the judges stand on their feet, and they rend and they do not mend. And the second says, “I also as he”; and the third says, “I also as he.” [Source]
Now, this “Yose will smite Yose” business is confusing: is it an example of blasphemous phrase or is it the actual template? Further discussion suggests it’s a template — you have to swear YHWH using YHWH’s name. “Fuck YHWH” would not count as blasphemy. “May YHWH fuck YHWH” would. “YHWH should go fuck Himself”? That one’s probably a grey area — and would need to be answered by a qualified professional. Another interesting point is that unlike the vast majority of Jewish religious laws, this one applies to non-Jews as well, so a Jewish Talmudic theocracy would indeed have to execute anyone who said YHWH will shit in YHWH’s spleen. If of course there are two witnesses and the person was warned before that this is a capital offence and proceeded anyway. But that’s another story.
My usual interpretation is that the rabbis tended to have a slightly more advanced morality than the writers of the Bible who preceded them by 1000 years or more. Only slightly but it was still tangible. Whereas the Bible prescribes death for everyone and anyone, the Talmudic tradition restricts each case to the most literal, narrow interpretation possible. All while claiming that this is the original oral Torah which was received by Moses along with the written one! So in a way it’s using the rules of the religious game to improve the game itself. Which is nice a few thousand years ago but still can only take you so far.
I think YHWH should give a very spirited smiting to YHWH for all this.
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