Posted by Lou Pilder on August 20, 2003, at 19:35:06
In reply to Re: Lou's response to stjame's post, posted by stjames on August 20, 2003, at 19:29:07
stjames,
The idea of defamation in the history of the worls involved adultery. The masterpiece of Nathanal Hawthorn, 'The Scarlet Letter", shows some of this. Adultery then was considered a horrible crime. So to accused falsly of such damaged the reputation of the one accused falsely.
The defamation laws were formed to punish that type of defamation. So horrible was adultery, that it was considered the great shame.
The ancient Isrealites stoned to death adulterers, so a false accusation of such carried a huge punishment later in history. Adulterers are still beheaded in some Islamic countries.
Lou
poster:Lou Pilder
thread:252280
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20030808/msgs/252603.html