What exactly is blasphemy?

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DeoJuventute

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The Catechism says that blasphemy consists of inward or outward words of reproach, hatred, or defiance towards God. But what exactly does that even mean? What does that look like, practically?

I use an examination of conscience that lists “anger at God” as a venial sin, but how can you be angry at God without having a disposition of or using words of reproach towards God?

Thanks.
 
I believe Jesus says something on the order of “the man that has lustful thoughts for someone other than his wife has already committed adultery.” A person doesn’t have to yell out angrily at God to be angry with God in their heart. Its a tall order but it gets the point across that “I can “look”, but not touch” isn’t the way to go about it. If looking is going to cause a person to lust its probably best not to look. I guess in the situation you described this would translate to it being wrong if a person inwardly hated God but still went to mass every week, received communion, and otherwise did the right things. I think the point is we can’t just go through the motions. Anger at God is probably a good sign that we don’t have complete faith in God.
 
“Anger at God” can be blasphemy…yes and very sinful.

It can also happen though that someone has some involuntary movement of emotion during say some trauma. (like a thought with a feeling one does not consent to) etc. Which may not involve any personal sin.

One has to examine what is actually meant by “anger at God”…speaking with a Priest in confession can be helpful.
 
DeoJuventute said:
The Catechism says that blasphemy consists of inward or outward words of reproach, hatred, or defiance towards God. But what exactly does that even mean? What does that look like, practically?

I use an examination of conscience that lists “anger at God” as a venial sin, but how can you be angry at God without having a disposition of or using words of reproach towards God?

Thanks.
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It is not anger as we know it, but God does encourages us to talk to Him, ask questions that we may disagree with, we, as mere humans, question Our Father on things we don’t agree with, but Our Loving Father guides us to the right path.
 
Is anger really gravely sinful when you’re expressing frustration at the course of life, or lamenting what is perceived as God’s neglect?

I completely agree that a person–and I think we all probably do this–who thinks this way, is obviously lacking a key ingredient to a concrete faith life, but is it really the same thing as blasphemy?

In other words, is a “God, why do you keep doing this to me?” to same thing as declaring inwardly or outwardly that God is neither good nor loving?
 
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