{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"English Learning for Curious Minds | A More Interesting Way To Learn English ","title":"#609 | A Short History of Blasphemy in Britain","html":"<iframe width=\"100%\" height=\"180\" frameborder=\"no\" scrolling=\"no\" seamless src=\"https://share.transistor.fm/e/418fdde3\"></iframe>","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":1304,"description":"When Thomas Aikenhead was hanged in 1697 for questioning the Bible, it was the last time someone was executed for blasphemy in Britain. But it didn't mean that debates around blasphemy went away. \nIn this episode, we'll trace the history of blasphemy in Britain, and discover how debates about insulting religion still shape British law and public life today. \n\n\nThomas Aikenhead: last execution for blasphemy in Britain, 1697.\nBlasphemy’s Greek roots: harmful speech, not originally religious.\nChurch and Crown fused; blasphemy protected political order.\nPercy Shelley expelled for publishing The Necessity of Atheism.\nRichard Carlile imprisoned for publishing Paine’s The Age of Reason.\n1977 Gay News case: editor convicted for blasphemous poem.\nLife of Brian controversy showed debate still alive.\nBlasphemy law protected Christianity only; Muslims unprotected during Rushdie.\n2008 abolition followed debate: protect people, not ideas.\nTahir Ali proposed new blasphemy law; government rejected.\n\n\n\nFull interactive transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/blasphemy-britain","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/HIneD2bpN38ZyIYQqvz9OwtMc5c5ep366psJkVe0ZiU/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9zaG93/LzU3MDEvMTYyMDk3/Mzg5MS1hcnR3b3Jr/LmpwZw.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}