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Behemoth - Frontman Formally Charged For Bible Destruction


According to Interia.pl and GazetaPrawna.pl, vocalist/guitarist Adam "Nergal" Darski of Behemoth was formally charged on Monday (March 8) for insulting Roman Catholics.

As reported by Blabbermouth, Darski made headlines in his native country in September 2007 when he reportedly called the Catholic Church "the most murderous cult on the planet" during a Behemoth performance in Gdynia and tore up a copy of the Bible onstage (see video footage here).

After the incident, Ryszard Nowak, head of the All-Polish Committee for Defense Against Sects sued Behemoth for promoting Satanism. Although a court expert witness on religious matters said that the act of destroying the Holy Bible could offend somebody's religious feelings (a criminal offense under Polish law), the case was discontinued because no one except Nowak accused Behemoth of insulting their religious beliefs. (Under Polish law, there must be at least two formal complaints before a charge is laid. The previous complaint was made in 2008, and recently an unspecified number of other complaints had been filed.)

Nergal is pleading not guilty to the charge.

According to Metal As Fuck, in the first hearing, under cross examination, Darski stated what he does on stage is part of artistic license and it wasn't supposed to offend religious feelings. However, an expert on religious history and studies from Jagellonian University in Krakow stated that every copy of a bible could be considered a religious icon.

There was no judgment ruled against Darski in the first hearing, but now that a second complaint has been filed, the matter will be heard by the courts.

IF(!) found guilty, Darski faces up to 2 years in prison.

Source: roadrunnerrecords.com
Band profile: Behemoth
Posted: 09.03.2010 by Thryce


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Comments: 141   [ 3 ignored ]   Visited by: 591 users
11.03.2010 - 19:59
Noekkk

They are lucky they are not in Iran, they would be hanged by now.
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Night...
Long...
Obscured...
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11.03.2010 - 20:22
-N-

Written by Storm Rider on 10.03.2010 at 03:41

I think Catholic Church in Poland must learn about how to FORGIVENESS, not to JUDGE. That's what Jesus Christ teach to everyone who believe Him

I agree with you, I think catholic church must surrender this subject to God.
Behemoth is one of my fav band. although i really like their extreme music and show, but i don't like their belief and lyrics. I don't accept the act of Nergal, and react of catholic church too.
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11.03.2010 - 20:28
AiwiAstwihad
AiryanaKhvarenah
Congrates Poland! You'll soon outrun IR. They sentenced a singer to 5 years (if i remember correctly) of imprisonment for singing some Quran verses rhythmically because some found it offensive!
----
You who will come to the surface
From the flood that's overwhelmed us and drowned us all
Must think, when you speak of our weakness in times of darkness
That you've not had to face
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11.03.2010 - 21:13
Ernis
狼獾
Written by 4look4rd on 10.03.2010 at 04:46

I actually like Behemoth and I am not catholic but I actually support the church this time. I don't think burning a religious icon should be part of "artistic license," but it should rather be consider as an act of ignorance. It doesn't matter what religion we are talking about; things like this just shouldn't happen, its like going back to the past when people were ignorant bastards that couldn't see one centimeter in front of their eyes. I think the hating on christianity is the new fad, but I would be just as pissed if they were burning a copy of the Qu'ran, some sacred hindo religious text, or even a pagan poem.

Thanks... one normal response among some of the shite I've seen here....

Written by AiwiAstwihad on 11.03.2010 at 20:28

Congrates Poland! You'll soon outrun IR. They sentenced a singer to 5 years (if i remember correctly) of imprisonment for singing some Quran verses rhythmically because some found it offensive!

In fact this is not funny... this person showed his uttermost ignorance and when someone says that using Bible as toilet paper or whatnot is awesome or burns a church or sticks a crucifix in his arse, then I feel PERSONALLY HURT... as much as I would like to be forgiving and nice, sometimes I'd like to beat some faces like these up so they'll remember it... as I would like to beat up the people such as those in charge of IRI... Then again, why should I care, I am disgusting to both sides... they all deserve each other...

I can swallow some things... I can swallow some things up to some extent... I even tried to ignore that "Jesus effin Christ" disgusting image in the funny stuff thread altho it made me wish to vomit but sometimes some things just finally CLICK it and I become offensive myself!

Have an example from a work by a homosexual Jewish film director who shows Peter's church rolling down on bunch of Christians praying depicting them as idiots and makes this a laughing matter for all the audiences over the world... (not to mention a crack running from between the hands of God and Adam as if to say "F you!" ) and of course, he didn't show Jerusalem being washed over by a tsunami nor did he blow up Meka... why oh why? I actually don't give a shite...

Thanks Begemot! You and some your fans and other people managed to click me... have a nice day and whine once more about how nasty Christians are...
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11.03.2010 - 21:59
Svneatr
Vitharr
To all Christians,
Believe in what you want to believe in. But you can't justify ripping up a book deserves 2 years in prison. It's the same thing that Christians all around the globe have been doing for thousands of years... Believe in what we believe in or you'll be punished. I recognize that not all Christians are like that but the ones that are spoil it for the rest of you. That's what creates this anti-christian atmosphere.

Give Nergal a fine. That's fair.
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11.03.2010 - 22:00
AiwiAstwihad
AiryanaKhvarenah
Written by Ernis on 11.03.2010 at 21:13

In fact this is not funny... this person showed his uttermost ignorance and when someone says that using Bible as toilet paper or whatnot is awesome or burns a church or sticks a crucifix in his arse, then I feel PERSONALLY HURT... as much as I would like to be forgiving and nice, sometimes I'd like to beat some faces like these up so they'll remember it... as I would like to beat up the people such as those in charge of IRI... Then again, why should I care, I am disgusting to both sides... they all deserve each other...

I can swallow some things... I can swallow some things up to some extent... I even tried to ignore that "Jesus effin Christ" disgusting image in the funny stuff thread altho it made me wish to vomit but sometimes some things just finally CLICK it and I become offensive myself!

And this fucking faggot Jewish film director who shows Peter's church rolling down on bunch of Christians praying depicting them as idiots and makes this a laughing matter for all the audiences over the world... and of course, he didn't show Jerusalem being washed over by a tsunami nor did he blow up Meka... why oh why? I actually don't give a shite...

Thanks Begemot! You and your fans managed to click me... have a nice day and whine once more about how nasty Christians are...

I don't know, i try to understand how one can be offended by mere words but i can't. Maybe that's because my ears are full of verbal insults to my personal beliefs and i haven't been able to do shit so got used to it...I've learnt to forget the bullshits as soon as i hear them.
Let ignorants scream all the nonsense they wish such as "i want to use Bible as toilet paper" or whatever, fuck them all...It's not worth bothering with. I guess we need to distinguish mocking a "belief system" from "threatening or insulting the FOLLOWERS of a belief system", i guess there's no need to react to the former but the latter needs to be dealt with for it can lead to "physical actions" against other humans.
----
You who will come to the surface
From the flood that's overwhelmed us and drowned us all
Must think, when you speak of our weakness in times of darkness
That you've not had to face
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11.03.2010 - 22:21
Ernis
狼獾
Written by AiwiAstwihad on 11.03.2010 at 22:00

I don't know, i try to understand how one can be offended by mere words but i can't. Maybe that's because my ears are full of verbal insults to my personal beliefs and i haven't been able to do shit so got used to it...I've learnt to forget the bullshits as soon as i hear them.

Well... it's ok... sometimes you just see how people are so brain-free and it makes sad... but when drops of water keep falling to the same spot all the time, they eventually make a hole in a rock...

I just now read an article where a priest wrote that Satan is feeling good and having fun in central religious organisation... of course... it's true... I am sure he's clapping hands on IRI hanging 19-year olds for making out with dudes and for participating in contra-government elections... Begemot bible scandal is actually nothing... but it just shows a tendency... and he's feelin' awesome every time people bitch, whine and hurt each other... and every time one feels the sweetness of "kickin' ass" he feels that another day has been successful...

Finally... there has been, is no and will never be any Satan worship anyway... it's just called selfishness and worship of oneself...

I don't think Nergal should be put to prison... this would give him the reason to shout how awful all Christians are... in the ideal way one should ignore such things... but sometimes a good beating seems inevitable... or a fine...

And yes, words and symbolic actions can hurt as much or worse than physical injuries... they can leave a very deep mark... you won't feel the best when someone photoshops your friend's face to a gay porn photo... you won't be "I don't care" when you or your close person is humiliated or hurt in any way... you just will not stand there and be "ok, it's nothing... I'll just go and have another ale now"

Sometimes the limit is simply crossed...
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12.03.2010 - 02:24
Doc G.
Full Grown Hoser
Boo fucking hoo. The guy is getting exactly what he set out to do, stir shit up. I mean, yeah the censorship sucks, but lets not act so fucking shocked. They're giving him exactly what he wants.
----
"I got a lot of really good ideas, problem is, most of them suck."
- George Carlin
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12.03.2010 - 03:51
Storm Rider

People at Catholic Church in Poland must learn from the story of John Pope II when he were given a forgiveness to Mehmet Ali Agca. Ali Agca was a young man who shot & wounded John Pope II in 1981, every Catholic people knew that John Pope II was from Poland. I think this was a good story that must people know it too
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12.03.2010 - 04:30
routa
Account deleted
Written by Doc G. on 12.03.2010 at 02:24

Boo fucking hoo. The guy is getting exactly what he set out to do, stir shit up. I mean, yeah the censorship sucks, but lets not act so fucking shocked. They're giving him exactly what he wants.


Oy, couldn't have said better.
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12.03.2010 - 07:32
Deigrinder

Nergal SHoULD BURN ALL biblE and Quran....
N i don't understand why iss he charged for.....he just destroyed the (UN)Holy Bible...IF ppl can w(H)or(e)ship god...then why cant anyone destroy IT?
IS destroying bible that bad??n why is it a crime???
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12.03.2010 - 07:43
renai

I guess using Behemoth's album cover as toilet paper is not a crime, eventough that will be very inconvenience... what a wasted paper.
----
hey...my blog >>> http://metalharem.blogspot.com/
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12.03.2010 - 09:00
Maxx666
Meshuggahian
Behemoth Rules. Nothing more to say. Stupid fuckin charges against Nergal.
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12.03.2010 - 14:13
AiwiAstwihad
AiryanaKhvarenah
Written by Ernis on 11.03.2010 at 22:21

but when drops of water keep falling to the same spot all the time, they eventually make a hole in a rock...

...Or it can make you stronger, thick-skinned and immune to stupidity so that you'll ignore simple-mindeds more easily instead of being annoyed or trying to educate 'em in vain.
Written by Ernis on 11.03.2010 at 22:21

And yes, words and symbolic actions can hurt as much or worse than physical injuries... they can leave a very deep mark... you won't feel the best when someone photoshops your friend's face to a gay porn photo... you won't be "I don't care" when you or your close person is humiliated or hurt in any way... you just will not stand there and be "ok, it's nothing... I'll just go and have another ale now"

Sometimes the limit is simply crossed...

Indeed, but i classify those acts as "Personal attacks" and they, of course, make you angry. I mean, when IR always equates Metal music with Satanism and its fans as junkies, Satan worshippers, sexually perverts who are involved in Satanic rituals and drink urine/blood and sacrifise infants...blah, blah, blah...I ignore all that crap as long as it's not directed at me/my friends personally thus if some dickhead DIRECTLY say the same stuff, then has to be responded, no doubts...
Personal insults, is where i draw the line.
Another example, Muslims blustered over some cartoons because again they were offended and there was placards such as: "Everyone who says Islam is violant must be beheaded"...What an irony, by the way!
I think, religious extremists are the ones who trigger midless reactions against religions (arsons for example) and the worse, validate that hatred with their radical responses (lets behead all who believe Islam is violant)...while sadly, nice wise ones (like you) are the ones who suffer most.
Yeah, it's ridiculous that Christianity is the only target...Because...Confronting Muslims is twisting the lion's tail so let the sleeping dogs lie...Jews, oh no, we're not Nazis...
----
You who will come to the surface
From the flood that's overwhelmed us and drowned us all
Must think, when you speak of our weakness in times of darkness
That you've not had to face
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12.03.2010 - 16:29
Ernis
狼獾
Written by AiwiAstwihad on 12.03.2010 at 14:13

...Or it can make you stronger, thick-skinned and immune to stupidity so that you'll ignore simple-mindeds more easily instead of being annoyed or trying to educate 'em in vain.

You're right... There's not much you or I can do about them....
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13.03.2010 - 04:27
Doc G.
Full Grown Hoser
2 Years is a bit harsh, but you'd think if had a warning before he would at least try and fight that law through petitions and appeals and whatnot before out right breaking it again.
----
"I got a lot of really good ideas, problem is, most of them suck."
- George Carlin
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13.03.2010 - 18:16
Valaskjalf
Account deleted
Well if its the law its the law....what I find funny is that he is ACTUALLY pleading not guilty!!?? He openly destroys and bashes religion, in interviews, his albums, everything. He has no foot to stand on, fair enough its his opinion, but he also knew it is against the law. I do however agree with him about how poisonous Catholicism is...I just find his "not guilty" plea quite strange, its like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar and saying he wasnt taking any lol
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14.03.2010 - 07:47
Deigrinder

The reason he says he's not guilty is because writing in the bible is not a crime.....;)
If religion feels sad because their (un)holy bible is Destroyed...
then i must tell u.....we who don't believe in god feels sad because there (un)holy bible is not destroyed...:cool:
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14.03.2010 - 09:13
jupitreas
hi-fi / lo-life
Written by Doc G. on 12.03.2010 at 02:24

Boo fucking hoo. The guy is getting exactly what he set out to do, stir shit up. I mean, yeah the censorship sucks, but lets not act so fucking shocked. They're giving him exactly what he wants.


Nergal has the right idea. Poland is really in trouble with the amount of control that the Catholic church has over society and politics. Something needs to be done. I'm not saying Nergal's way is the best possible way but at least he is doing SOMETHING.

I'd be willing to tolerate Catholics if only they weren't forcing their religion down my throat.

Most of you people around the world misinterpret Nergal's action as some usual black metal anti-christian shtick; however, in Poland, he is making a political statement. He is Polish and like me, he can't fucking stand seeing how catholicism affects every facet of everyday life.
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14.03.2010 - 09:37
K✞ulu
Seeker of Truth
I think jupi has got a point in some respects. I have read about the preponderance of Catholicism in Poland and that many people are kinda devout and they go to church just because it's something people in Poland do, like a custom.

The thing I support is the fact that the Church and the government are supposed to be separate. That's the lesson from history that is supposed to have been learned by now.

I don't think, however, that's tearing the Bible is an accepted action. I mean there are many different denominations in Christianity, and although Nergal would probably say fuck you to all of them, it's just wrong and disrespectful...
----
Savor what you feel and what you see
Things that may not seem important now
But may be tomorrow

R.I.P. Chuck Schuldiner

Satan was a Backstreet Boy
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14.03.2010 - 10:26
jupitreas
hi-fi / lo-life
Written by K✞ulu on 14.03.2010 at 09:37

I think jupi has got a point in some respects. I have read about the preponderance of Catholicism in Poland and that many people are kinda devout and they go to church just because it's something people in Poland do, like a custom.

The thing I support is the fact that the Church and the government are supposed to be separate. That's the lesson from history that is supposed to have been learned by now.

I don't think, however, that's tearing the Bible is an unaccepted action. I mean there are many different denominations in Christianity, and although Nergal would probably say fuck you to all of them, it's just wrong and disrespectful...


Extreme conditions demand extreme responses... I think a lot of people, particularly those from the more civilized world, can't understand just how oppressive catholicism is in Poland. Besides this law that Nergal broke, which is a clear violation of the freedom of expression, the catholic church has just an immense influence on life in Poland. Being a catholic and going to church is seen as the norm and therefore anyone going against the grain is immediately stigmatized, no matter how little they oppose this tradition. An atheist or agnostic quite literally becomes part of a social minority that experiences a very real social prejudice. In a country where racial diversity is pretty low, it is the atheists that become the 'niggers'.

This is why Nergal's actions actually have a very real significance in Poland and are more than just pure controversy for the sake of promotion (although I am sure Nergal welcomes the promotion, lets not kid ourselves). He is doing the right thing, although he might not be doing it in the best possible way.

Personally, I think people like Nergal who have some degree of public credibility, should focus on convincing the many atheists, agnostics, nihilists etc. in Poland to get excommunicated from the catholic church. Poland's ratio of registered catholics is something like 99% and this is due to the deeply ingrained tradition of baptizing children. This means that even people who don't have christian beliefs are officially considered catholics. If all of these people got excommunicated (ie. officially quit the church), the church's influence on politics and society would fall. It would be a gradual process but slowly, not being catholic would cease being a stigma in this country.

With all this said, I still think that at least Nergal is doing SOMETHING to solve the situation and I respect that.
Burning the Bible is disrespectful towards christians, sure... but in a country where non-catholics are constantly disrespected in every way imaginable, it is nothing but a reaction to oppression.
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14.03.2010 - 14:40
Storm Rider

I guess in the future will be introspections to Catholic people in Poland & try to find out why Nergal doing that. Human life stand in 2 side, believe & unbelief to God. For believe to God, Bible is a holy book but for unbelief, Bible is only book. When people (unbelief) saw that many people (believe) doing nothing (their life not related to what Bible said), then impact to trusty (respectful). I think it's really really reasonable view
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14.03.2010 - 16:15
Angelic Storm
Melodious
Potentially 2 years for destroying a bible? Thats outrageous, if catholicsm has so much power in poland, and freedom of speech against catholicsm is so oppressed in that country, then Im with Nergal all the way! This is just one more example of why organised religion is society's cancer. I dont think catholics have any right to criticise Nergal for his actions, if they themselves are ramming the bible, and catholicsm down non believers throats. Which Im sure in Poland does happen a lot.
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15.03.2010 - 07:24
Deigrinder

I understand when Nergel destroyed the bible a lot of Catholicism's people were sad .So what?
Think of a murderer who will be hanged tomorrow.His(murderer) family members are sad.So should we not prosecute his punishment?
For us to do the right thing we must also make some people sad.

Jupitreas I think what Nergel doing is the best course of action because we can see how oppressive Catholicism is in Poland .So for this oppression to stop we must do the things they(Catholicism's people) feel sad n hurt.
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16.03.2010 - 14:42
Dangerboner
Lactation Cnslt
Nergal Shall Serve
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16.03.2010 - 14:44
Lucas
Mr. Noise
Written by Dangerboner on 16.03.2010 at 14:42

Nergal Shall Serve




Can't believe it took this long until anyone came up with this. Awesome but sad.
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SLUDGE. DOOM. DEATH. Wait, what?

"The reason I'm running for president is because I can't be Bruce Springsteen." - Barack Obama
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16.03.2010 - 22:43
Doc G.
Full Grown Hoser
Written by Lucas on 16.03.2010 at 14:44

Written by Dangerboner on 16.03.2010 at 14:42

Nergal Shall Serve




Can't believe it took this long until anyone came up with this. Awesome but sad.

Countdown until someone takes that joke personally 5...4...3...
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"I got a lot of really good ideas, problem is, most of them suck."
- George Carlin
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17.03.2010 - 02:59
Storm Rider

I think Nergal can take a legal action for his freedom of expression such as below

Freedom of speech is the freedom to speak without censorship and/or limitation. The synonymous term freedom of expression is sometimes used to indicate not only freedom of verbal speech but any act of seeking, receiving and imparting information or ideas, regardless of the medium used. In practice, the right to freedom of speech is not absolute in any country and the right is commonly subject to limitations, such as on "hate speech".

The right to freedom of speech is recognized as a human right under Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and recognized in international human rights law in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
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17.03.2010 - 08:27
Dangerboner
Lactation Cnslt
Nergal has shamed my Jesus. I hope they can find a cell that will fit his forehead

Sculpting the Jail ov Nergal
Bubba is Above, Nergal is Below
Alas, Jail is Upon me
No Sympathy from Poland

damn I'm bored

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17.03.2010 - 09:12
BitterCOld
The Ancient One
Written by Dangerboner on 17.03.2010 at 08:27

Nergal has shamed my Jesus. I hope they can find a cell that will fit his forehead

Sculpting the Jail ov Nergal
Bubba is Above, Nergal is Below
Alas, Jail is Upon me
No Sympathy from Poland

damn I'm bored





... alas, bubba is upon me...
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get the fuck off my lawn.

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