Irish Atheists Use Carlin to Flout Law on Blasphemy

An atheist group in Ireland thinks a new law against blasphemy is "silly and dangerous," and it's using everyone from Jesus to George Carlin to support its case. The Atheist Ireland website has put up 25 quotes it says would run afoul of the 2-day-old law, which forbids "publishing or uttering matter that is grossly abusive or insulting in relation to matters sacred by any religion." Those convicted face a fine of about $35,000.

The group hopes to challenge the law in court, notes the Guardian. On its list is one from Carlin: "Religion easily has the greatest bullshit story ever told." Bjork: "f--- the Buddhists." Jesus, telling Jews: “Ye are of your father the devil." And, of course, Frank Zappa: "To hang all this desperate sociology on the idea of The Cloud-Guy who has The Big Book, who knows if you’ve been bad or good ... that, folks, is the chimpanzee part of the brain working.” (More Ireland stories.)