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Very Short Introductions #681
Blasphemy: A Very Short Introduction
In a world where not everyone believes in God, 'blasphemy' is surely a concept that has passed its use-by-date. And yet blasphemy (like 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 engines of surveillance (which are far more omniscient than the old gods could ever be), and the legacies of colonial blasphemy laws.
Throughout, Sherwood uncovers new histories, from the story of accidentally blasphemous cartoons, to the close associations between blasphemy, sex, and birth control. She also argues that blasphemy itself involves an inherent contradiction in imagining the divine as an entity that must be revered above all, yet also a being that could possibly be hurt by anything that happens in the merely human sphere. Unpicking some of the most famous cases of blasphemy, Sherwood also looks at obscure instances, asking why some 'blasphemies' have become infamous, while others have disappeared.
Very Short Introductions : Brilliant, Sharp, Inspiring
ABOUT THE The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.
Throughout, Sherwood uncovers new histories, from the story of accidentally blasphemous cartoons, to the close associations between blasphemy, sex, and birth control. She also argues that blasphemy itself involves an inherent contradiction in imagining the divine as an entity that must be revered above all, yet also a being that could possibly be hurt by anything that happens in the merely human sphere. Unpicking some of the most famous cases of blasphemy, Sherwood also looks at obscure instances, asking why some 'blasphemies' have become infamous, while others have disappeared.
Very Short Introductions : Brilliant, Sharp, Inspiring
ABOUT THE The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.
160 pages, Paperback
Published November 1, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
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April 22, 2026সিরিজের অন্য বইগুলোর চেয়ে এই বইটা একটু আলাদা মনে হলো। কারণ ব্লাসফেমি'কে ঠিক এক বর্গে ফেলে আলাপ করা যায় না। 'ব্লাসফেমি'র ইতিহাস মূলত দুনিয়ার আলোচিত কিছু ব্লাসফেমির ঘটনা এবং সেগুলোর ভিন্ন ভিন্ন প্রেক্ষিতের ইতিহাস।
May 2, 2026
Summary: A history of blasphemy with an emphasis on blasphemy and its intepretation.
Why I Read This: I kind of love these "A Short Introduction" books.
Review: This wasn't one of my favorites. I could tell that the author was trying to pull thematic threads, but I was honestly not engaged enough in the text to follow.
Why I Read This: I kind of love these "A Short Introduction" books.
Review: This wasn't one of my favorites. I could tell that the author was trying to pull thematic threads, but I was honestly not engaged enough in the text to follow.
March 7, 2022
A good overview of a topic that’s often overlooked. Generally the author does a great job of covering the subject comprehensively. However, there’s a strong tendency to repetition. In one case (Pasolini prosecuted under laws implemented in the 1930s) the same facts are repeated within five sentences of each other.
Also, some famous examples are left out or glossed over. There’s no mention of the “Piss Christ” affair in the US, nor of the Terrence McNally play “Corpus Christie”. “The Last Temptation of Christ” was mentioned so briefly the indexer missed it.
Nonetheless, an interesting read. 3 1/2 stars rounded up to four.
Also, some famous examples are left out or glossed over. There’s no mention of the “Piss Christ” affair in the US, nor of the Terrence McNally play “Corpus Christie”. “The Last Temptation of Christ” was mentioned so briefly the indexer missed it.
Nonetheless, an interesting read. 3 1/2 stars rounded up to four.
April 1, 2025
I was curious as to what I would find in a book covering this subject. What the author offers is a relativizing of the concept of blasphemy, making it something of a plastic concept that can be molded to fit the occasion (marginalization of minorities, political oppression, etc.). Therefore, while it will not be adequate or accurate for the reader desiring a fuller picture on the religious implications of blasphemy (which the author is less than sympathetic toward), it provides a clear account of the social and political dimensions of blasphemy, broadly construed, and as such is a helpful read for how the 'other' is various negotiated.
February 26, 2024
An excellent book. A poor audiobook.
The topic. Is fascinating and it’s well written, but the audio quality is poor. The narrator sounds as if she’s reading through a coffee can opened at both ends. In my car it was difficult to understand what she was saying. She read in a voice so neutral and free of inflection-like an A.I. voice-that it made the interesting dull.
Other narrators for this series have done the same, leaving me to wonder if a producer is demanding it.
Give me Grover Gardner any day.
The topic. Is fascinating and it’s well written, but the audio quality is poor. The narrator sounds as if she’s reading through a coffee can opened at both ends. In my car it was difficult to understand what she was saying. She read in a voice so neutral and free of inflection-like an A.I. voice-that it made the interesting dull.
Other narrators for this series have done the same, leaving me to wonder if a producer is demanding it.
Give me Grover Gardner any day.
June 1, 2026
I’m docking a star; not for the premise, which is backed by a vast and rather compelling catalog of anecdotes, but for a circular prose that consistently fails to drive its arguments home. Still, a worthwhile find if you don't mind connecting the dots yourself.
April 6, 2025
Meh. Nothing surprising here.
July 15, 2026
Outright definition and condition of Blasphemy is well written. A great book understand the issue in whole context.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews