The Monadnock Center for History and Culture in Peterborough is presenting a program by Joseph Steinfield , “Blasphemy in Modern Times, on Tuesday, May 24, at 7 p.m.
The concept of “blasphemy” has its roots in the Bible, both the Old and New Testaments, and in the Quran as well. The United States no longer punishes people for blasphemy, but many other countries continue to do so. Salmon Rushdie’s Satanic Verses, the Danish cartoons, the Charlie Hebdo caricatures of Muhammad – these are examples of blasphemy in modern times, but less prominent cases occur on a daily basis in certain places throughout the world. This talk will address how these instances of “defamation of religion” have affected our society, and how we should balance freedom of speech with respect for religious beliefs. The program will include a segment of active audience participation.
Joseph Steinfield is a trial lawyer, teacher, and writer. Locally, Joe is a frequent contributor of editorials to local papers, and is known for his monthly column in the Monadnock Ledger Transcript which often features stories of his growing up in Claremont, NH. His memoir “Claremont Boy: My New Hampshire Roots and the Gift of Memory,” was published by Bauhan Publishing in 2014.
This program is free and open to all. For more information contact the Monadnock Center at 603-924-3235, or MonadnockCenter.org
