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Home > English Learning for Curious Minds > #609 | A Short History of Blasphemy in Britain
Podcast: English Learning for Curious Minds
Episode:

#609 | A Short History of Blasphemy in Britain
Category: Education
Duration: 00:22:44
Publish Date: 2026-05-07 22:00:00
Description:

✨ 30 for 30 Challenge - Starts 18th May - https://dripl.ink/niDJQ

Registration closes at 23:59 on Sunday, 17th May.

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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.

 

In 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.

 
  • Thomas Aikenhead: last execution for blasphemy in Britain, 1697.
  • Blasphemy’s Greek roots: harmful speech, not originally religious.
  • Church and Crown fused; blasphemy protected political order.
  • Percy Shelley expelled for publishing The Necessity of Atheism.
  • Richard Carlile imprisoned for publishing Paine’s The Age of Reason.
  • 1977 Gay News case: editor convicted for blasphemous poem.
  • Life of Brian controversy showed debate still alive.
  • Blasphemy law protected Christianity only; Muslims unprotected during Rushdie.
  • 2008 abolition followed debate: protect people, not ideas.
  • Tahir Ali proposed new blasphemy law; government rejected.

Full interactive transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/blasphemy-britain

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