Blasphemy: a Very Short Introduction

Download or read book Blasphemy: a Very Short Introduction written by Yvonne Sherwood and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2021 with total page 169 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In an increasingly secular world, 'blasphemy' is surely a defunct concept. And yet blasphemy (life God and religion) seems to be on the rise. In this Very Short Introduction Yvonne Sherwood asks why this should be the case, looking at factors such as the increased visibility of religious and racial minorities, new media, and the legacies of colonial blasphemy laws. Throughout, she uncovers new histories, from the story of accidentally blasphemous cartoons to the close associations between blasphemy, sex, and birth control, and asks why some 'blasphemies' have become infamous, while others have disappeared.