I've been reading a book by Christopher Moore called "Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal." It got me thinking about blasphemy and who decides what's blasphemy and what's not.

There's a very trite way to open an essay, which is by giving the definition of a word. But here I think it may be worthwhile to note that blasphemy is defined thusly: expressing disrespect for God or for something sacred. That's a pretty broad definition. Who's to say what's disrespectful, or even what's sacred?

Two of my all-time favorite things would probably be considered blasphemous by religious types. "Dogma," a great movie by Kevin Smith, takes on the Catholic church but treats God with love. "Good Omens," a book by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett, is a humorous look at the apocalypse. Having been raised in a very Christian household, I enjoy reading or watching stories that tweak religion.

"Lamb" is pretty funny so far, and though I'm agnostic, I do know that if there was a Jesus, he didn't spontaneously turn from a 12 year old kid into a 33 year old man. There was a good 20 years in between that is not recorded. "Lamb" imagines what life as the son of God would be like for an adolescent.

My mom thinks the song "What if God Was One of Us" is blasphemy. Seriously. I think it's just a nice little tune about treating others with care and respect.

I guess I don't really have a point other than that I wish people could be allowed to decide for themselves what's sacred. If God exists, I don't think he's such a wuss that he would get his feelings hurt over a book, a movie or a song.

Or, hopefully, a blog entry.