“Curses Left and Right: Hate Speech and Biblical Tradition” by Brian
M. Britt

The abstract reads:   “Hate speech has been defined as
‘words that wound,’ but legal arguments to restrict such words have
been unable to show how language *in itself* can have power. Such
power is inconsistent with secularist ideas of language that
consider words to be mere tools of human communication and
expression. Instead, current debates over hate speech reflect
biblical traditions of cursing and powerful words. Yet arguments
against the use of racist and sexist speech depend mainly on modern,
secular notions of language, equality, and justice.

Meanwhile, in defiance of secular law and theories of language, some religious
groups have used inflammatory words to provoke public outrage and
advance their agendas. The curse of the pulsa denura (Israel) and
the execrations of the Westboro Baptist Church (United States)
exploit a ‘curse loophole’ in law and society that doubts the power
of words. An approach to language and tradition that avoids the
simplistic dichotomy of ‘religion’ and ‘secularity’ can lead to a
more robust and productive debate on words that wound.” Journal of
the American Academy of Religion, 78:3 – 2010, pp633-661.

Journal of the American Academy of Religion,