Oklahoma is often called the buckle of the bible belt, but many Oklahomans have no idea that taking the Lord's name in vain is illegal.
The law passed in 1910 made blasphemy a misdemeanor. All these years later some state lawmakers are pushing to repeal the law, calling it unenforceable.
The law states:
"Blasphemy consists in wantonly uttering or publishing words, casting contumelious reproach or profane ridicule upon God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Ghost, the Holy Scriptures or the Christian or any other religion."
"I think it's ridiculous," Tulsan Tracy Hargrove told FOX23 News.
"It's kind of judgmental," Tulsan Sunny Hall said. "I mean, freedom of speech I guess."
Other Tulsans FOX23 News talked to, whether they considered themselves to be religious Christians or not, agreed blasphemy laws have no place in Oklahoma's state government.
But what about a pastor, who has dedicated his entire life to his faith and service to God?
"Antiquated, totally unnecessary," Dr. Bill Carter, senior pastor at Heatherridge Baptist Church, said. "I also believe that it violates the First Amendment rights."
Carter said it's not that he thinks people should be blasphemous. He just doesn't think the government or law enforcement should have to deal with it.
"I believe that the God whom I serve is able to take care of Himself," Carter said. "He doesn't need a law on the book to do that."
Like most people, Rogers County Sheriff Scott Walton had no idea the law existed. He personally hates when people take the Lord's name in vain. But that's not the whole story.
"It's one of those deals that would be, I think, strategically a nightmare to enforce," Walton said.
"Realistically, it would be very, very hard to interpret what people's meanings are be words or whatever. And it would be very, extremely hard to enforce laws like this."
But even if officers did enforce the blasphemy law, not everybody would be willing to cooperate.
"I wouldn't pay it," Hargrove said. "But then I'd have a bench warrant out for my arrest."
"Well, I'd be dumbfounded," Albert Crowe said. "I'd be hysterical about it, because I think that's just crazy."
"What are you going to do," Hall asked. "Knock on people's doors and ask them, and spy on them and see if they've said anything?"
But if the law has barely, if at all, been enforced in the past 100 years do lawmakers need to spend time repealing it?
Sheriff Walton, and most of the others FOX23 News talked to said yes, repeal it.
Dr. Carter would rather see lawmakers taking on bigger issues.
"If a court case came up where we had difficulty that involved this law, OK, maybe at that time our state legislature should do something," he said. "But at this time it's innocuous. It just doesn't mean anything."
The wording of the law doesn't mention what a possible penalty could be if someone were cited under the blasphemy law.
