Blasphemy is a religious crime. It is an insult toward something considered sacred or divine. Some countries/states justify blasphemy laws as protecting the religious beliefs of the majority or the minority. Anti-blasphemy laws exist in about 25% of the world's countries. Blasphemy can be included in speech, writing, music and art. Blasphemy laws are commonly used around the world to persecute people for their beliefs. It is also used to suppress criticism of religion. Profanity, cussing, swearing and speaking sacrilegiously about God, has been found to be a great stress reliever and pain reducer.