You mean I can blaspheme, and NOT go to jail, what a century of wonders!

The blasphemy law is off the books now in Britain.

LONDON — A funny thing happened in November when Britain launched a righteous protest over Sudan's arrest of a British schoolteacher accused of insulting Islam by letting her students name a class teddy bear Muhammad.

The Sudanese ambassador was summoned; Prime Minister Gordon Brown issued a protest. But it didn't take long for someone to point out that Downing Street was standing on diplomatic quicksand: Britain itself has a law making blasphemy a crime.

Thus began a period of collective soul-searching on free speech and secularism, traditional values and the church that anoints Britain's queen. It culminated Wednesday in a 148-87 vote in the House of Lords to abolish the laws on blasphemy after a wrenching, two-hour debate.

"It is crystal-clear that the offenses of blasphemy and blasphemous libel are unworkable in today's society," Kay Andrews said in introducing the government-backed amendment, adding that "as long as this law remains on the statute books, it hinders the UK's ability to challenge oppressive blasphemy laws in other jurisdictions."

But in a debate that underscored Britain's continuing strong roots in the Church of England, there was substantial doubt about the wisdom of abandoning what for many is a symbol of the increasingly multicultural nation's reliance on Christian values as a foundation for law and society.

So the blasphemy law was okay...until a similar was used against Brits in another country.

Doh! Now it makes sense to embrace free speech in England!

And, blasphemy laws help maintain cultural standards? ...Isn't that the same damn aeguemnt the Sudanese used who wanted to kill that woman?

They don't see the sadly ironic logic chain?

Further article on RichardDawkins.net.