Slandering the Sacred: Blasphemy Law and Religious Affect in Colonial India

Slandering the Sacred explores how colonial infrastructures shaped our globalized world, focusing on the 1927 British imperial law (Section 295A of the Indian Penal Code). It deconstructs white martyrs to free thought, calls for new histories of blasphemy, and transgresses the borders between the secular and the sacred.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 272 pages
Publication date: 05 April 2023
Publisher: The University of Chicago Press

Why is religion today so often associated with giving and taking offense? To answer this question, Slandering the Sacred invites us to consider how colonial infrastructures shaped our globalized world. Through the origin and afterlives of a 1927 British imperial law (Section 295A of the Indian Penal Code), J. Barton Scott weaves a globe-trotting narrative about secularism, empire, insult, and outrage. Decentering white martyrs to free thought, his story calls for new histories of blasphemy that return these thinkers to their imperial context, dismantle the cultural boundaries of the West, and transgress the borders between the secular and the sacred as well as the public and the private.

Secularism is a complex and multifaceted concept that has evolved over centuries, shaped by a range of cultural, social, and political factors. In this essay, we will explore the history of secularism and its relationship to political feeling through the lens of colonial blasphemy law.

Colonialism was a period of immense territorial expansion and cultural domination by European powers, which lasted from the 15th to the 19th century. During this time, European nations colonized vast regions of the world, bringing with them their own religious and cultural beliefs. However, the encounter between these different cultures often led to tensions and conflicts, particularly over religious beliefs and practices.

One of the ways in which colonialism impacted religious beliefs and practices was through the introduction of blasphemy laws. Blasphemy laws were laws that criminalized the expression of religious hatred or contempt. These laws were often used to suppress religious minorities and to maintain the dominance of the dominant religious group in a particular region.

In India, for example, the British colonial government introduced the Indian Penal Code in 1860, which included Section 295A, which criminalized the "injuring or defiling of a place of worship with intent to insult the religion of any class." This law was used to target religious minorities, particularly Muslims and Christians, and to suppress their religious practices.

Section 295A of the Indian Penal Code was repealed in 1950, but its legacy continues to be felt today. The law has been used to intimidate and suppress religious minorities, particularly in regions where religious tensions are high. In recent years, there have been several cases of Muslims and Christians being arrested and charged under Section 295A for expressing their religious beliefs or criticizing the government.

Blasphemy laws are not unique to India; they have been used in other colonial contexts as well. In the Ottoman Empire, for example, the Sultanate of Turkey introduced blasphemy laws in the 19th century, which were used to suppress religious minorities, particularly Jews and Christians. In the Spanish Empire, the Inquisition was used to prosecute and punish those who were accused of blasphemy, including Jews, Muslims, and Protestants.

The legacy of colonial blasphemy law is complex and multifaceted. On the one hand, these laws were used to suppress religious minorities and to maintain the dominance of the dominant religious group in a particular region. On the other hand, these laws also had the effect of marginalizing and stigmatizing religious minorities, leading to a sense of isolation and persecution.

Today, secularism is often associated with the idea of separating religion from the state and promoting a society that is based on reason and rationality. Secularism is seen as a way to promote religious tolerance and to prevent religious conflicts. However, secularism is not without its challenges.

One of the challenges of secularism is the question of how to balance the rights of religious minorities with the demands of the majority. In many countries, secularism is seen as a way to promote religious freedom and to prevent the state from interfering in religious affairs. However, this can sometimes lead to the marginalization of religious minorities, particularly in regions where religious tensions are high.

Another challenge of secularism is the question of how to deal with religious extremism and terrorism. Secularism is often seen as a way to promote religious tolerance and to prevent the state from interfering in religious affairs. However, this can sometimes lead to the marginalization of religious minorities, particularly in regions where religious tensions are high.

In conclusion, the history of secularism and its relationship to political feeling through the lens of colonial blasphemy law is complex and multifaceted. Secularism is a way to promote religious tolerance and to prevent religious conflicts, but it is not without its challenges. It is important to balance the rights of religious minorities with the demands of the majority and to deal with religious extremism and terrorism in a way that promotes religious tolerance and respect for human rights.

Weight: 448g
Dimension: 150 x 229 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780226824901