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Blasphemy originates from a time when the legal system of England was ruled by the Christian Church. The offence was originally part of 'ecclesiastical law' until in the seventeenth century it was declared by the Court of the King's Bench that it was a common law offence. Most countries have blasphemy laws, but it is argued that the United Kingdom has an aged, mostly disused blasphemy law which is rarely invoked, because of this blasphemy laws have been the subject of much criticism and debate. This essay will analyse the current state of the law of blasphemy and the arguments for its amendment or abolishment. The legal notion of blasphemy is purely a common law offence, following the abolition in 1967 as part of a purge of obsolete offences of the Blasphemy Act 16971. There are therefore no set statutory limits on possible fines or prison terms which the court...

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