Father's Day & Defamation of God the Father. Can our own earthly fathers be defamed? Can our neighbours be defamed?
More importantly, can God the Father be defamed?
Whatever re: the wider discussion is in the law, if anything, all father's, especially Pastors, ought study, know, ponder and meditate upon the Biblical definition of God, lest they misspeak or mischaracterize His Majesty, His Word and all His works.
Imagine someone libelling, defaming and mischaracterizing you or your family? Imagine the same by those in the pulpit.
We believe that God is misrepresented very often by negligent and, in many cases, intentional defamation. We believe this is often expressed in pulpits, in worship, in books, magazines and other centres of influence. This results "in harm" to followers and the speaker. It does not harm God, our Invincible Rock--in fact, He scoffs at defamers, cf. (and sing) Psalm 2.
From Cornell University Law School's website:
The tort of defamation includes both libel and slander.
To establish a prima facie case of defamation, four elements are generally required: a false statement purporting to be fact concerning another person or entity; publication or communication of that statement to a third person; fault on the part of the person making the statement amounting to intent or at least negligence; and some harm caused to the person or entity who is the subject of the statement.
Defamation is a "tort," as definied below:
A civil wrong which can be redressed by awarding damages. See, e.g. Smith v. United States, 507 U.S. 197 (1993).
Among the types of damages the injured party may recover are: loss of earnings capacity, pain and suffering, and reasonable medical expenses. They include both present and future expected losses.
There are numerous specific torts including trespass, assault, battery, negligence, products liability, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Torts fall into three general categories: intentional torts (e.g., intentionally hitting a person); negligent torts (e.g., causing an accident by failing to obey traffic rules); and strict liability torts(e.g., liability for making and selling defective products - See Products Liability). Intentional torts are those wrongs which the defendant knew or should have known would occur through their actions or inactions. Negligent torts occur when the defendant's actions were unreasonably unsafe. Strict liability wrongs do not depend on the degree of carefulness by the defendant, but are established when a particular action causes damage. There are also separate areas of tort law including nuisance, defamation, invasion of privacy, and a category of economic torts. Tort law is state law created through judges (common law) and by legislatures (statutory law). Many judges and states utilize the Restatement of Torts (2nd) as an influential guide. The Restatement is a publication prepared by the American Law Institute whose aim is to present an orderly statement of the general law of the United States.
More importantly, can God the Father be defamed?
Whatever re: the wider discussion is in the law, if anything, all father's, especially Pastors, ought study, know, ponder and meditate upon the Biblical definition of God, lest they misspeak or mischaracterize His Majesty, His Word and all His works.
Imagine someone libelling, defaming and mischaracterizing you or your family? Imagine the same by those in the pulpit.
We believe that God is misrepresented very often by negligent and, in many cases, intentional defamation. We believe this is often expressed in pulpits, in worship, in books, magazines and other centres of influence. This results "in harm" to followers and the speaker. It does not harm God, our Invincible Rock--in fact, He scoffs at defamers, cf. (and sing) Psalm 2.
From Cornell University Law School's website:
Any statement, whether written or oral, that injures a third party's reputation.
See, e.g. Buckley v. Fitzsimmons, 509 U.S. 259 (1993).
The tort of defamation includes both libel and slander.
To establish a prima facie case of defamation, four elements are generally required: a false statement purporting to be fact concerning another person or entity; publication or communication of that statement to a third person; fault on the part of the person making the statement amounting to intent or at least negligence; and some harm caused to the person or entity who is the subject of the statement.Defamation is a "tort," as definied below:
A civil wrong which can be redressed by awarding damages. See, e.g. Smith v. United States, 507 U.S. 197 (1993).
tort law: an overview
Torts are civil wrongs recognized by law as grounds for a lawsuit. These wrongs result in an injury or harm constituting the basis for a claim by the injured party. While some torts are also crimes punishable with imprisonment, the primary aim of tort law is to provide relief for the damages incurred and deter others from committing the same harms. The injured person may sue for an injunction to prevent the continuation of the tortious conduct or for monetary damages.(See Damages)Among the types of damages the injured party may recover are: loss of earnings capacity, pain and suffering, and reasonable medical expenses. They include both present and future expected losses.
There are numerous specific torts including trespass, assault, battery, negligence, products liability, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Torts fall into three general categories: intentional torts (e.g., intentionally hitting a person); negligent torts (e.g., causing an accident by failing to obey traffic rules); and strict liability torts(e.g., liability for making and selling defective products - See Products Liability). Intentional torts are those wrongs which the defendant knew or should have known would occur through their actions or inactions. Negligent torts occur when the defendant's actions were unreasonably unsafe. Strict liability wrongs do not depend on the degree of carefulness by the defendant, but are established when a particular action causes damage. There are also separate areas of tort law including nuisance, defamation, invasion of privacy, and a category of economic torts. Tort law is state law created through judges (common law) and by legislatures (statutory law). Many judges and states utilize the Restatement of Torts (2nd) as an influential guide. The Restatement is a publication prepared by the American Law Institute whose aim is to present an orderly statement of the general law of the United States.
Definition from Nolo’s Plain-English Law Dictionary
An injury to one person for which the person who caused the injury is legally responsible. A tort can be intentional -- for example, an angry punch in the nose -- but is far more likely to result from carelessness (called "negligence"), such as riding your bicycle on the sidewalk and colliding with a pedestrian. While the injury that forms the basis of a tort is usually physical, this is not a requirement -- libel, slander, and the "intentional infliction of mental distress" are on a good-sized list of torts not based on a physical injury. A tort is a civil wrong, as opposed to a criminal wrong. Compare: crime
Definition provided by Nolo’s Plain-English Law Dictionary.
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