Apikorus

Prove Christ exists, judge orders priest

AN ITALIAN judge has ordered a priest to appear in court this month to prove that Jesus Christ existed.

The case against Father Enrico Righi has been brought in the town of Viterbo, north of Rome, by Luigi Cascioli, a retired agronomist who once studied for the priesthood but later became a militant atheist.

Signor Cascioli, author of a book called The Fable of Christ, began legal proceedings against Father Righi three years ago after the priest denounced Signor Cascioli in the parish newsletter for questioning Christ’s historical existence...

Toto

From that article Cascioli's web page is here - it seems to be a machine translation of the Italian.

Needless to say, the USA does not outlaw "abuse of popular credulity" nor "impersonation," and this case could not be brought in this country, which respects the rights of religions to abuse popular credulity.

And I think this really belongs in BCH.

Toto

previous thread in BCH on this lawsuit.

Apikorus

"That which hath been is that which shall be, and that which hath been done is that which shall be done; and there is nothing new under the sun. Is there a thing whereof it is said: 'See, this is new'?--it hath been already, in the ages which were before us." - Qohelet 1:9-10

Vorkosigan

LOL. How can anyone have politics and advertizing in a country with such laws?

It's not "atheism" but Luigi Cascioli, and he needs a better case. Maybe we ought to chip in and fly Robert Price or GA Wells over there.

Michael

RUmike

I think this is hilarious. I would love to see the existence of Jesus debated out in a courtroom with the absolute best each side has to offer, and see what the jury, or judge, finds.

Haener

It should proof an interesting case but I have no high hopes for the outcome. Italy is, by and far, a catholic country and the church plays an important role in everyday life. The outcome will be that a reasonable case can be made for the existance of jesus since any other outcome is unthinkable in Italy.

But maybe I'm wrong.

rob117

I don't get it. How can you sue for "abusing popular credulity?"

The fact is you can't prove beyond a doubt that anyone from the first century existed unless they happened to be head honcho at the time.

Toto

Most European countries, which do not have the American concept of a First Amendment guarantee of both freedom of speech and freedom of religion, try to protect gullible people from cult recruiters and religious charlatans. The French call this "mental manipulation" or something like that. In the US, cults and religions and advertisers are very powerful and have established their right to advertise, seduce, manipulate, and otherwise sell their products. Americans somehow have come to believe that the government has no right to monitor your consumer decisions, and that all religion is benevolent.

Christians do claim that Jesus was head honcho of a sort.

scombrid

I saw Kevin Trudeau on TBN's local affiliate last night. He was selling anti-aging cream. As if Benny Hinn, Mike Murdock, and Creflow Dollar hadn't already fleeced enough of those people.