Polish Supreme Court Rules Against Behemoth's Nergal Over Bible Tearing
Band Photo: Behemoth (?)
After being cleared of blasphemy charges in Poland last year stemming from an on-stage Bible ripping incident, apparently Behemoth front man Nergal is now facing legal issues again due to a recent decision by the Polish supreme court.
The Guardian is reporting the supreme court has now ruled against Nergal, who may potentially spend up to two years in jail for tearing up a Bible. Excerpts from the report follow:
Poland's supreme court has issued a landmark judgment against a heavy metal musician who tore up a Bible at a gig in 2007. Although the judges conceded that Adam Darski, AKA Nergal, did not intend to offend his audience, they ruled that he could still have "offended religious feelings," violating Polish law. If found guilty, the singer could face up to two years in prison.
After being cleared by judges in 2010 and 2011, the singer/guitarist is again on trial. Officials in Gdansk asked the supreme court how Darski could be "offending religious feelings" if most of Behemoth's fans expected theatrical sacrilege?
"One should respect the court's verdict," Darski told journalists. But the Catholic church is also "immature," he said, "trying to gag people … [and] freedom of speech." Speaking to Reuters, Darski's lawyer said they would continue to oppose the charges: "We are still arguing that we were dealing with art, which allows more critical and radical statements," Jacek Potulski explained.
Nergal has now released a new autobiography titled "Sacrum Profanum," which details his battle with leukemia. The latest trailer for the release is available right here.
Read the full article at The Guardian.
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19 Comments on "Polish Supreme Court Rules Against Nergal"
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Shock is with those that are shocked.
Tearing up a bible can hardly be called vandalism.
Nothing can give black metal a "worse name", it was meant to be the most aggressive, disturbing and repulsive kind of music and aesthetics. And that was what gave it it's initial burst of creative (and destructive) power that was so bold and threatening.
And yes, Behemoth is far from that, though they have a kind of recognizable sound and i enjoy some of their albums like "Thelema 6".
"To me blackmetal embodies individualality, independence, and awarness."
So it's something like democracy, mew age religion or yoga? :D
Member
Dear Nergal...YOUR COUNTRIES RELIGIOUS VIEWS SUCK.
Please move to America where you can tear, jump up and down on, burn, debate the bible while it sits on an empty chair, you can pretty much do anything you want with the book....because none of us give a flying $hit.
:)
Branded....agreed.
Don't they have some witches to go burn?
So 2, tearing up a bible is what, art?
A civic duty to people who dont respect religon?
What if a band or say a religous institution took behemoth
records, and took a giant sh** on it or threw em in a bonfire to burn in front of a crowd to prove there point that behemoth sucks? That would be ok alright?
You wouldnt cry foul yourself or get all pissy yourself?
And idk what your take is on bm but im pretty passionate about the genre, so to compare it to yoga or politics tells me you take it as a big joke, which is fine.
Member
I guess I'll await for you to eradicate me, branded.
I sincerely want you to know and understand that not all religions hold a heavy political hand.
Not all Christians support or condone the acts of the Roman Catholic controlled Polish government.
Roman Catholicism is not synonymous with all Christianity, hence the vast multitude of alternate Christian denominations.
Personally, as a Christian, I feel strongly that religion should NOT be involved in politics. Political ties to a religion only serve to pervert the religion itself. Which is what we see here with the trial Nergal is going through.
Christianity isn't to blame for this. The political machine that the RC church has devolved into is.
I would think the actions of the Polish supreme court do not fully represent the RC church in Vatican (I doubt the Pope has any involvement in this.) The RC church does not represent all Christians. Whether or not they are involved, prosecutorial actions do not represent Christianity or even Christ Himself. If you really look at this situation, you can see how distanced Christian beliefs are from the persecution Nergal is dealing with.
How the f*** do you offend the feelings of someone when you do something to insult something conceptual?... And make it a law that you can't... Damn, I wasn't p***ed when J. Geils said 'Love stinks'... it's true, it does, even if it can be great (follow the whole 'concept' thing). People just cling too hard to their own beliefs.
'You sir have offended my delicate religious sensibilities! I will now persecute you, insisting that I speak for God and conduct His will whilst doing so.' (Didn't this happen bef.... Oh yeah, The Crusades...)
I can't really tell if this is a religious thing or a Polish thing... playing up that stereotype hard.
Either way and anyway Nietzsche should be critically read by all professed 'religious' leaders.
Member
Polska remains in the f***ing Dark Age eh? ah yes...when the world is too scary and inexplicable, shove your fool head up yer a$$ again and point fingers at the goddamned Devil
The all encompassing breadth of human stupidity and weakness of mind never fails to utterly fvcking disgust me
BTW...bibles packed tight in a box make an excellent medium for testing projectile penetration and performance
Shoot them Bahbles, Nergie Boy! :)
NP---Os Abysmi vel Daath---Monotheist
Those laws are ridiculous. "Offending the feelings" of anybody should not be a concern. Freedom of speech MUST include what we don't like to see or hear. Just change the channel, don't go to the concert.
@shel gordon = I hardly think that Nergal would get his undies in a bunch if anyone decided to burn, break or take a sh** on his albums. I'm pretty sure he's aware that if you're dishing it out, you must be able to take it as well. Let's give him some credit, eh? You're being rather patronizing towards him. And, no, I'm not even really a fan of Behemoth. I have a read a few interviews with Nergal, and he seems quite articulate and intelligent. If I were him, I'd be insulted by your comment, but not by someone sh**ting on my albums.
Member
Branded:
I stand in solidarity with the teachings of Christ - not the Roman Catholic church or any 'church' that persecutes.
What you may be having a hard time with is separating the actions of organizations from the actual beliefs they are 'supposed' to represent. Many people have issues with this.
No teaching in the Bible advocates prosecuting non-believers. Many have taken verses out of context. Those misquoted verses are aimed within the believers - not outward.
This avoidance of persecution is exactly why religious 'organizations' should refrain from politics. With politics comes the quest for power and thus control. When a democracy is controlled by a religious group it is no longer a democracy, but a theocracy. Such seems to be the case with Poland.
To be clear. I do not stand with the POLITICAL actions taken here. I stand in solidarity with the teachings of Christ - who advocated no such persecution.
Member
Excellent points per usual DJ, though I believe you might be in a select minority? I have noticed that a decent percentage (perhaps majority?) of practitioners of MANY of the 'Christian' denominations neither understand nor follow the Teachings of the Christ
In fact, more times than not, such folk have historically behaved quite oppositely, using their 'affiliation' with Jesus as a tool of destruction: false judgement, presumption, divisiveness, elitism, condemnation, penalty, death...in short, EVIL
Jesus don't bug me none, but I've yet to meet a self proclaimed 'true Christian' that was worthy of calling themselves such. Though I know a small handful of incognito folk that do live very close to the Consciousness; to whom the idea of ignorant subscription to ANY prescribed mode of thinking represents the epitome of tragic comedy...sad, silly, frustrating, and laughable all at the same time
When 'tradition' becomes 'religion', the flourishing of psychology and the evolution of the human mind is stifled and abated...in short, RETARDED :)
NP---Never Fvcking Mind---Lung -Over-Liver
News flash BH, there is nothing "artsie" or revelevent when you go on a stage and destroy religious scrpitures, documents etc, you might as
well stand on the stage and wave your fist in the air and bellyache about it. Tearing up a bible doesnt sound articulate btw, if he was he d being challenging the laws and institution with his words of protests and facts not acting like a jr high student, ripping up his math book infront of his friends, throwing it in the air and yelling hail satan to get a few cheers or pats on the back.
If thats the only way he can express his disaproval of religon he would have better luck burning a chrch down.
Adam darksi maybe somewhat articulate, but nergal is an udder dumbsh**.
Member
DJ: regardless of how you see it you are following a religion that has since its birth done nothing but persecute, murder, enslave, etc....so you can claim you are following "christ's teachings" all you want, but millions will see it differently....all religions are nothing but a brainwashing slave order for the weak minded who have to use the fairy tale of the invisible man in the sky to be able to function in life......
Member
Branded:
I've said it before, there is a difference between actions of individuals/organizations and the actual teachings of the religion (not exclusive to Christianity). Everyone regardless of belief acts hypocritically - even me and even you. You calling for the persecution of all religions (post #3) in an attempt to eliminate persecution is one hypocritical action. You may think that removal of religion will solve the problem, but the plain truth is that with an absence of religion, there would still be just as much persecution, murder, enslavement, etc. in this world. In short, removing religion doesn't remove evil. Not hardly.
The quest for power and control is not exclusive to religions. The teachings of Christianity do not advise that.
Politics on the other hand is ALL about it. I blame the political games in the Polish government for Nergal's persecution. Any involvement of the RC church is political and not tied to tenets of Christianity.
HR aptly pointed out that I am in the minority. I realize this. I also realize that most of my pro-Christian comments on this site in general have been to show that not every Christian is out to condemn those that don't accept Christ. I am only trying to be a positive example so others can make their own choice to come to know Him as I do.
With Christianity, I have something to look forward to beyond this life. If I am wrong, then I can still say with out regret that I tried to be the best person that I could be. If I am right, then I have an eternity to enjoy God's presence.
I'm not trying to force any beliefs down your throat. It's your choice to believe in anything or nothing at all.
Member
""With Christianity, I have something to look forward to beyond this life.""
and without christianity i also have something to look forward to after this life as i believe the spirit moves on beyond this purgatory existence we undure called life...i see it as a good thing for all humans, not just those who believe in the man in the sky, but everyone. i dont let my spirituality force me to believe in those who do not follow the christian doctrine will burn in hell.....i see everyones spirit moving on to better places whether religious or not.
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While the law and the church politics of poland might be
a bit backwards, when challenging and or opposing a law that might not be too popular or seem unfit, the last thing you should do is vandalize or property destruct to attempt to prove your ideology and or point.
Challenges to rules and laws against any institution arent taken seriously when this occurs.
While i am a fan of black metal but not of behemoth personally, ive never understood or condone the acts of destruction of religious structures or scriptures.
It proves and shows nothing.
To me blackmetal embodies individualality, independence, and awarness.
I personally dont get off or a rush if my bm band destroys bibles on stage, to me its an immature attempt to fool the audience that your act/ band lives this lifestyle.
Whether adams intentions at the time where in the heat of the moment while in dragg to fire up the audience or on purpose to maybe go what hes going through on purpose to raise awarness of this law is unknown, but again the destruction of religous properties of any sort proves absoloutly nothing, personally i think gives blacl metal aworse name and reputation than it has.
Knowledge, mind power and awarness over shock and vandalism.