( CNN ) -- In his youth , Ronald Lindsey planned to enter the priesthood , so fervent was his devotion to God . But these days , Lindsay is devoted to protecting a person 's right to ridicule , criticize -- even lambaste God . Super Bowl Sunday Praying for a Hail Mary was painted by Dana Ellyn . You might say he is a blasphemer 's savior . The devout Catholic turned non-believer leads a movement that is all about protecting people 's rights to speak irreverently about religion . Criticizing God is an act punishable by death in several nations . In America , blasphemy laws remain on the books in six states , though they are largely arcane and not enforced . But everywhere , it seems to Lindsay , scoffing at God is not socially acceptable . People are willing to tolerate the harshest statements about the president of the United States , he said . But talk about Jesus or Mohammed -- that 's a whole different ball game . `` We think religious beliefs should be subject to examination and criticism just as political beliefs are , '' said Lindsay , 56 , who heads the Center for Inquiry in Amherst , New York , an organization that claims about 100,000 followers worldwide . `` But we have a taboo on religion . '' Outraged by nations that want to execute blasphemers and propelled by a deep belief in the freedom of expression , Lindsay is forging ahead with his `` nothing is sacred '' movement . Wednesday marks the first organized observance of Blasphemy Day , a series of events , exhibits and lectures unfolding in a host of mostly North American cities that are part of a larger Campaign for Free Expression . The day coincides with the fifth anniversary of a Danish newspaper 's publication of controversial cartoons about Mohammed . The depictions of the prophet wearing a bomb as a turban with a lit fuse sparked protests by Muslims worldwide and prompted media outlets to censor themselves . But to Lindsay , a society is not truly free unless people can freely air their views on any subject -- including God . The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops , when asked about the day on Wednesday , declined to comment . Blasphemy Day even includes a contest that invites participants to come up with slogans that might be judged blasphemous by society . And , yes , the winner gets a T-shirt heralding the prized slogan . Lindsay offered this sample : `` There 's nothing wrong with God that a dose of reality wo n't cure . '' Some of the entries are so crude they ca n't be published by CNN . But since the Center for Inquiry is all about freedom of expression , it ca n't reject any of them . Lindsay has made it clear that expletive-ridden , crass slogans are not the type of entry that is destined to win , but he makes no apologies for statements that might offend a devout person 's sensitivities . Neither does artist Dana Ellyn , 38 , of Washington D.C. , who is showing her provocative paintings of God and religion in a special Blasphemy Day show Wednesday evening . Ellyn grew up as a non-believer but later studied religion on her own to understand it . After all , she said , it 's such an important part of society . She found the concept of faith fascinating . It was an unknown to her . She painted a scene from Noah 's Ark with a black child sitting under the table . How did the races evolve , her art asks those who believed in the Biblical tale ? She portrayed Jesus painting his crucifixion nails after she noticed a church group using space next to a nail salon in a shopping mall stung by recession . She said she realizes her work makes people uncomfortable , though her intent is not to disrespect . `` Even to say , ' I do n't believe in God ' is enough to knock someone out of their chair and then to see it in a picture ... I 've had a lot of hate come my way . '' And even though she does n't believe in hell , she feels a bit uneasy hearing that she is going straight to it . `` I am in no way trying to be a poster child for atheism , '' Ellyn said . `` But I do n't want to be punished for not believing in God . '' Ellyn said she never means to harm anyone , so she finds it frightening that someone could be punished -- or lose their life -- over remarks or actions considered blasphemous . An Afghan student journalist was sentenced to death for distributing a paper that allegedly blasphemed Islam . A British schoolteacher spent time in a Sudanese jail after she allowed her students to name teddy bears after Mohammed . These are cases that worry Lindsay and the members of his organization . He is most distressed by the U.N. General Assembly considering next month a binding resolution on the defamation of religion . All this did not come easy to Lindsay , the son of Catholic parents who bared his soul in a confession booth each week . Later , he studied religion and philosophy in at Georgetown University . The more he read , the more he questioned beliefs that had been ingrained from childhood . Slowly , the would-be-priest turned into an atheist lawyer -- and a 21st-century defender of time-worn sacrilege .
Wednesday marks first organized observance of Blasphemy Day . Leader is devoted to protecting a person 's right to ridicule , criticize , lambaste God . Comment: