Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!cs.utexas.edu!bcm!dimacs.rutgers.edu!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: max@mthvax.cs.miami.edu (Max Southall) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: The Local Churches -- cult or Christian Body Message-ID: Date: 25 Oct 90 07:07:11 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: University of Miami Department of Mathematics & Computer Science Lines: 18 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu I think it worth noting that there is a scriptural prohibition against taking other Christians to court, as the Nee/Lee groups have been aggressively doing. A litigious attitude hardly seems indicative of a spirit of love, forgiveness, and yes, even turning the other cheek. I understand that even the mention of this group in a critical light brings immediate threat of well-heeled multimillion-dollar lawsuits. This has resulted in an effective prior restraint on free speech and a free press, something that in this country smacks of totalitarianism. It is regrettable that a group whose leaders have suffered under totalitarianism, apparently, have not seen the value of free discussion in an open society. Christian publishers of cult apologetics and doctrinal examinations are not entities with deep pockets, and the threat of long and expensive lawsuits effectively silences them.