Sanhedrin 56: Blasphemy and Liability, Noahide Laws

We begin with a new Mishna.  It teaches that one who blasphemes is only liable if s/he explicitly says the name of G-d.  If this is witnessed, then all are asked to leave the courtroom.  Only one witness, the person with the highest stature, must repeat what s/he he heard, at which point the judges tear their clothing and never repair it.  Any further witnesses may say, "I heard it like s/he heard it".  

The Gemara questions whether G-d's name must be said once or twice, whether one must have cursed G-d with G-d's name, or whether the name must be spoken or whether a carving of the name being destroyed might be enough.  The rabbis also determine through proof texts that blasphemy includes nokev, uttering.

Who is liable for blasphemy?  The rabbis walk through a number of different groups of people and their possible actions against G-d.  In this way they determine who is liable and the severity of their punishment.  Generally speaking, the punishment for blasphemy is death by sword.

A baraita teaches about what we call the Noahide Laws. These apply to all people descended of Noah, not only the Jews descended of Abraham.  Nochrim must observe 7 mitzvot: set up courts to enforce civil laws, laws against blasphemy, idolatry, arayot - forbidden relationships, murder, theft, and eating the limb of a living animal.  Perhaps they are also forbidden to eat the blood of a living animal, to castrate, or to practice witchcraft.  The rabbis disagree about whether or not they must avoid crossbreeding animals and mixing seed when planting.  Each of these is backed with proof texts.  

The Gemara asks about dinim, the halachot requiring the establishment of civil courts.  It is possible that these requirements were already in place.  The rabbis argue about whether these are laws in addition to the 7 Noahide laws or whether these laws were included in the Noahide laws.