Defamation is the destruction or attempted destruction of the reputation, status, character or standing in the community of a person or group of persons by unfair, wrongful, or malicious speech or publication. For the purposes of this essay, the central element is defamation in retaliation for the real or imagined attitudes, opinions or beliefs of the victim, with the intention of silencing or neutralizing his or her influence, and/or making an example of them so as to discourage similar independence and “insensitivity” or non-observance of taboos. It is different in nature and degree from simple criticism or disagreement in that it is aggressive, organized and skillfully applied, often by an organization or representative of a special interest group, and in that it consists of several characteristic elements.
Ritual Defamation is not ritualistic because it follows any prescribed religious or mystical doctrine, nor is it embraced in any particular document or scripture. Rather, it is ritualistic because it follows a predictable, stereotyped pattern which embraces a number of elements, as in a ritual. Read more»
Laird Wilcox, “The Practice of Ritual Defamation” (HT: Stella Morabito)
I read and printed the essay of Laird Wilcox. The details of ‘ritual defamation’ describe the actions which flow from the fallen nature regarding any person with an idea opposing the group think. Is this missing from any group, including the ‘Church Family’?
How is this failure to relate in a godly, respectful way addressed successfully?