Blasphemy laws are barbaric.

"or damaging national unity" has a lot to do with it.

See England's Supremacy Act of 1534.

and i suppose it's a "chicken and egg" thing.

But without the fervent religious beliefs of the population, blasphemy laws would not be as possible to institute.
The rulers might use these beliefs to further their own agendas, but people agreeing that their God is offended is the core reason for these. IMO.

Your mileage may vary.

A simplistic, but useful, slideshow.

http://www.slideshare.net/lil-slide-share/marxist-theories-of-religion

a classless society as he does at religious belief disappearing.

I disagree that religious belief stems from a class society anyway, perhaps religious institutions, but belief has a much more primal origin.

He was no theologian but a damned insightful political scientist.

and while connected, religious institutions are a different subject from beliefs.

blasphemy laws are used by the ruling regimes to ingratiate themselves with the people inMuslim countries. these corrupt ruling elites cant deliver on bread, jobs and housing so they use blasphemy persecutions to keep the public distracted

Which ideologies they use vary by the culture. While religion is a common one, they also use ethnicity, race, language, nationalism or gender. Whatever works to maintain power.

religion is but one dangerous ideology among others. And all these stem from erroneous belief systems.

Why do you think it's called The Patriot Act? Do you think patriotism is a dangerous ideology?

erroneous beliefs within the subjects you listed.

And yes patriotism can be very dangerous. And someone can love his country, but when his beliefs lead him to think it is the best country that ever existed and can do no wrong, those erroneous beliefs are problematic to say the least.

I would say it's all erroneous

But I understand that viewpoint.

And because of the deep nature of religious beliefs it is one of the most dangerous when it goes wrong.
I think people are able to let go of most ideologies more easily than religious ones.
(not that they do it easily)

welcome these laws. Does it have anything to do with their religious beliefs?