Posted by Lou Pilder on October 28, 2012, at 10:12:04
In reply to Academic exercise. » Lou Pilder, posted by SLS on October 28, 2012, at 9:05:47
> Hi Lou.
>
> Again, you present a cogent argument. I don't know enough about law to be able to question some of your assertions.
>
> Regarding the equating of religious revelations with mental illness, it was not my intention of producing a definition. Like I said - rightly or wrongly - I think your description of having received divine revelations would prove to be an obstacle for you to overcome in court were you to sue for slander or libel. I'm glad that all of this is only an academic exercise at this point. It is likely that any attempt at litigation by you regarding statements made by others describing you as mentally ill would lead to scrutiny of your mental health. I think you would lose.
>
>
> - ScottScott,
You wrote about receiving divine revelation would be some type of obstacle in some way to show defamation by libel.
You know, let us look at a hypothetical example of a cross examination in a libel suit. The defense of the one that is being charged with libel by saying that the plaintiff is "mentally ill", has invoked that it is true that the palintiff is mentally ill by the fact that he states that he has received divine revelation, so thearfore it is true that he is mentally ill. Let us say that the plaintiff is a Christian. Here is the cross examination of the plaintiff:
defense attorny:
Are you a Christian?
Plaintiff:
Yes
defense attorny:
do you believe that Jesus is the Christ?
plaintiff:
yes
defense attorny:
How do you know that is true?
plaintiff:
It has been divinly revealed to me.
defense attorny:
Your honor, I demand a dismissal here because this man is mentally ill because he says that it has been revealed to him by divine revelation that Jesus is the Christ. He is insane and this proves it.
Now do you see a little bit more into what an accusation that someone is "mentally ill" can do as harm to a person?
Lou
poster:Lou Pilder
thread:1029828
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20121018/msgs/1030051.html