(I) It is heretical when the insult to God involves a declaration that is against faith, as in the assertion: вЂњ God is cruel and unjustвЂќ or вЂњThe noblest work of man is GodвЂњ. Blasphemy, by reason of the significance of the words with which it is expressed, may be of three kinds. (2) It is said to be against God, though this may be only mediately, as when the contumelious word is spoken of the saints or of sacred things, because of the relationship they sustain to God and His service. Being primarily a sin of the tongue, it will be seen to be opposed directly to the religious act of praising God.

It is to be noted that according to the definition (I) blasphemy is set down as a word, for ordinarily it is expressed in speech, though it may be committed in thought or in act. Hence it has been defined by Suarez as вЂњany word of malediction, reproach, or contumely pronounced against GodвЂќ (De Relig., tract. MEANING.-While etymologically blasphemy may denote the derogation of the honor due to a creature as well as of that belonging to God, in its strict acceptation it is used only in the latter sense. Paul tells of being blasphemed (I Cor., iv, 13) and the Latin Vulgate employs the word blasphemare to designate abusive language directed either against a people at large (II Kings, xxi, 21 I Par., xx, 7) or against individuals (I Cor., x, 30 Tit., iii, 2). In this broad sense the term is used by Bacon when in his вЂњAdvancement of LearningвЂќ he speaks of вЂњblasphemy against learningвЂќ.

blaptein, вЂњto injureвЂќ, and ph?m?, вЂњreputationвЂќ) signifies etymologically gross irreverence towards any person or thing worthy of exalted esteem.

Blasphemous definition