The Blasphemy Challenge

About

In December of 2006, the Rational Response Squad,^[1] an atheist activist group launched The Blasphemy Challenge,^[2] a website featuring the following YouTube video:

Basically, the idea was to invite Atheists to make a statement that, based on Mark 3:28-29, represents the one and only completely unforgivable sin in Christian doctrine:

Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin. (New International Version)

In return for recording themselves in a YouTube video committing this specific blasphemous act, the first 1,001 posters would receive a complimentary copy of the documentary The God Who Wasn't There.

The YouTube video has been viewed over one million times and as of July 2010 has 1,353 video responses. While not all of the response videos are atheists performing the Blasphemy Challenge, the site does state that 1,001 copies of the documentary have been given out and the challenge is over.

Video responses

The Blasphemy Challenge was the occasion for the first video posted by Pat Condell, a popular athiest vlogger and comedian:

A large number of Raelians take the challenge as a group:

In this video, God denies the Holy Spirit:

"Atheistblindchick" takes a short, quick, humorous approach:

Many people of course posted responses with the exact opposite intention of the RRS although many, like Reverend Matthew Moretz, respected the message nonetheless:

Parodies

The "Rigatoni Response Squad" suggests the FSM Blasphemy Challenge:

User RobNieves suggests the Santa Blasphemy Challange:

Mainstream coverage

The phenomenon was touched on by various media outlets, including FoxNews:

Search interest

External references

^[1] Rational Response Squad

^[2] Blasphemy Challenge