To speak disrespectfully or irreverently about God, religion, or sacred things.
From Old French 'blasphemer', derived from Late Latin 'blasphemare', from Greek 'blasphemein' meaning 'to speak profanely.' The Greek root combines 'blaptein' (to harm) and 'pheme' (speech), literally meaning 'harmful speech.'
Blasphemy laws have shaped history in fascinating ways—in medieval Europe, people were executed for it, yet the definition of what counts as blasphemy has changed dramatically, showing how cultures redefine what speech is truly 'harmful.' Today most democracies protect blasphemous speech as free expression.
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