Source: https://contendingforthefaith.org/en/defense/list-of-all-articles-related-to-defense-against-libel/
Timestamp: 2019-04-22 16:34:07+00:00

Document:
An historical overview giving the background of the writing and publication of the Encyclopedia of Cults and New Religions, the structure and language of the book, attempts to engage the authors and publisher in Christian fellowship, the discoveries made during the lawsuit, and the decision of the Texas Court of Appeals in the case and that decision’s shortcomings and dangerous implications, as well as a surprising development leading to greater recognition of the members of the local churches are genuine believers.
An answer by Watchman Nee to a question about the circumstances under which a Christian could appeal to a secular law court.
Background information on the local churches, including a statement of our faith, a brief history, and an explanation of our pursuit to be well-pleasing to the Lord in all things.
A chronology of the events in November and December 2001 leading to the filing of a libel complaint against Harvest House, John Ankerberg, and John Weldon for the publication of the Encyclopedia of Cults and New Religions. The events in these two months show the local churches seeking Christian reconciliation versus the duplicity of Harvest House and its authors in negotiating in bad faith and initiating legal action.
Basic facts concerning the litigation over the Encyclopedia of Cults and New Religions (ECNR), including a definition of the issues at stake, Harvest House’s rejection of all attempts by repersentatives of the local churches and Living Stream Ministry to resolve concerns apart from litigation, Harvest House’s republication of the book and filing of a suit in Oregon court, and Harvest House’s subsequent reprinting of ECNR after the libel action was filed.
Frequently asked questions regarding the litigation over the Encyclopedia of Cults and New Religions.
A statement by Living Stream Ministry concerning Eastern Lightning, “the Shouters,” and other aberrant religious groups in China.
An amicus brief filed by cult experts who appealed to the United States Supreme Court to review The Local Church et al v. Harvest House et al on the grounds that Texas Court of Appeals decision set a dangerous precedent for protecting defamation by the use of the term cult when it is used in a secular sense, as the Encyclopedia of Cults and New Religions did.
A press release concerning the United States Supreme Court’s decision not to review the Texas Court of Appeals decision in The Local Church et al v. Harvest House et al.
An amicus brief filed by six people with extensive experience in publishing, broadcasting, and religion asking the United States Supreme Court to review The Local Church et al v. Harvest House et al from the perspective of balancing protection of freedom of speech and of the press with the rights of religious organizations to seek protection from libel.
An amicus brief filed by six international experts (including three former ambassadors), attesting to the danger of the Texas Court of Appeals decision inThe Local Church et al v. Harvest House et al to Christians residing in religiously restrictive countries and asking the United States Supreme Court to review that decision.
The petition by The Local Church et al to the United States Supreme Court.
A list of articles written in response to Harvest House’s public misrepresentations on its corporate website and through other channels.
An amicus brief filed by libel law expert Dr. Rodney Smolla with the Texas Supreme Court pointing out several flaws in the application of libel law by the Texas Court of Appeals in The Local Church et al v. Harvest House et al.
An introduction to a series of articles on how Harvest House misrepresented the local churches’ appeal for relief from libel and our objections to the Encyclopedia of Cults and New Religions.
Harvest House attempted to recast the litigation over the Encyclopedia of Cults and New Religions as a theological dispute, but a reading of the libel complaint filed in The Local Church et al v. Harvest House et al shows this claim to be false.
John Ankerberg and his attorney Shelby Sharpe both claimed that the local churches registered no objections to “The Local Church” chapter. This article shows that their claims are false and misleading.
On a syndicated radio broadcast Harvest House President Bob Hawkins, Jr., gave a distorted account of the history of the local churches’ protests over the Encyclopedia of Cults and New Religions. This article contrasts the statements he made on the air with the actual facts.
To mislead both the court and the public, Harvest House portrayed the nature of the definition of cult in the Encyclopedia of Cults and New Religions as purely theological in nature. This article shows the falsehood and duplicity of that claim.
A public statement concerning the decision to appeal the Court of Appeals decision which granted Harvest House, John Ankerberg, and John Weldon summary judgment in the libel action over the Encyclopedia of Cults and New Religions.
A press release concerning the Court of Appeals decision reversing the District Court’s rejection of the defendants’ motion for summary judgment.
An index of court filings and major court rulings in The Local Church et al v. Harvest House et al, the libel litigation concerning the Encyclopedia of Cults and New Religions.
Is Our Appeal to the Courts in Accordance with Scripture?
An examination of what the Bible says about how Christians should deal with disputes and under what circumstances an appeal to a secular court system may be justified.
A chronology of key events in The Local Church et al v. Harvest House et al, the libel litigation concerning the Encyclopedia of Cults and New Religions.
An index to important documents in The Local Church et al v. Harvest House et al, the libel litigation concerning the Encyclopedia of Cults and New Religions.
An index of miscellaneous procedural and evidentiary court rulings in The Local Church et al v. Harvest House et al, the libel litigation concerning the Encyclopedia of Cults and New Religions.
An index of press releases related to The Local Church et al v. Harvest House et al, the libel litigation concerning the Encyclopedia of Cults and New Religions.
An index of the letters of protest written by representatives of Living Stream Ministry, the local churches, and the co-workers of Witness Lee prior to the filing of The Local Church et al v. Harvest House et al, the libel litigation concerning the Encyclopedia of Cults and New Religions.
A press release responding to an amicus brief filed by The Rutherford Institute with the Court of Appeals. That brief mischaracterized the litigation as being over issues of belief rather than over abhorrent conduct.
A press release concerning public postings on Harvest House’s corporate website libeling the local churches.
Ten irrefutable facts about the Encyclopedia of Cults and New Religions that show reckless disregard for the truth and malice on the part of both the authors and the publisher in including the local churches in the book.
Harvest House claimed to use “professional editorial standards” in the development and publishing of the Encyclopedia of Cults and New Religions. This article shows the emptiness of those claims.
Harvest House claimed that its use of The Chicago Manual of Style discharged its responsibility to use “acceptable editorial standards” in publishing the Encyclopedia of Cults and New Religions. The Chicago Manual, however, focuses on stylistic and not substantive issues and cannot be used to justify shirking editorial norms in publishing a book that makes false and defamatory accusations.
A press release announcing the District Court’s decision to deny the first motion for summary judgment filed by Harvest House, John Ankerberg, and John Weldon in the case over the Encyclopedia of Cults and New Religions.
An index to the testimony in The Experts Speak with links to relevant portions on specific topics.
This Preface to the printed volume of The Experts Speak describes the contents of the book and how it is structured.
The “Meet the Experts” section of The Experts Speak gives basic profiles of the six experts who studied the local churches and the teachings of Witness Lee for the Lee et al v. Duddy et al case concerning The God-Men.
The “Introduction” to The Experts Speak presents the historical background of Lee et al v. Duddy et al and describes the role of the expert witnesses in the case.
“The Experts Speak”—John Gordon Melton, Ph.D.
“The Experts Speak”—John Albert Saliba, Ph.D.
Dr. John A. Saliba, a Jesuit priest and Professor in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Detroit-Mercy, testified that SCP adhered to a principle of attacking and destroying anyone with whom they did not agree and that the accusations of cultic behaviors made in The God-Men were false as regards the local churches and the teachings of Witness Lee.
“The Experts Speak”—Eugene Van Ness Goetchius, Ph.D., Th.D.
“The Experts Speak”—Rodney Stark, Ph.D.
“The Experts Speak”—H. Newton Malony, Ph.D.
“The Experts Speak”—Edwin S. Gaustad, Ph.D.
Dr. Edwin S. Gaustad, formerly Emeritus Professor of History at University of California, Riverside, wrote a statement criticizing self-appointed vigilante groups such as SCP and the damage they cause to the reforming impetus inherent in Christianity.
After the ruling in The God-Men case, Tyndale House Publishers withdrew Larson’s Book of Cults which also mentioned the local churches.
The full text of Dr. J. Gordon Melton’s booklet An Open Letter Concerning the Local Church, Witness Lee, and The God-Men Controversy, written and published by Dr. Melton after the conclusion of Lee v. Duddy. After giving a general background of the local churches based on Dr. Melton’s research as the leading authority on contemporary American religious groups, this booklet shows The God-Men‘s twisting of Witness Lee’s words in four key areas—propositional revelation, morality, rationality and use of the mind, and personal versus biblical authority. Based on SCP’s blatant misrepresentation of Witness Lee’s teaching, Dr. Melton recommends that The God-Men and any writing based on it be discarded.
After the end of The God-Men case (Lee v. Duddy) in 1985, Dr. J. Gordon Melton, one of the expert witnesses in the case, wrote and published An Open Letter Concerning the Local Church, Witness Lee and The God-Men Controversy. Dr. Melton demonstrated conclusively that The God-Men had misrepresented Witness Lee teaching and recommended that it, and any other writing based on it, be discarded.
An index to material on this site related to Judge Leon Seyranian’s decision in Lee et al v. Duddy et al, the libel case concerning The God-Men.
Key findings in Judge Leon Seyranian’s decision in Lee et all v. Duddy et al.
A table of contents to the various sections of Judge Leon Seyranian’s written decision in Lee et al v. Duddy et al, outlining the falsity of fourteen accusations, the defendants’ intent to damage the plaintiffs, and the judge’s awarding of both compensatory and punitive damages.
The complete text of the Statement of Decision in Lee et al v. Duddy et al, the landmark libel case in which Judge Leon Seyranian found The God-Men to be “in all major respects false, defamatory, and unprivileged, and, therefore, libelous.” In his decision he cited deposition testimony from the defendants as well as testimony before the court from expert witnesses and members of the local churches. These citations are linked to images of the exhibits and transcripts in the case.
At the end of the court proceedings in Lee et al v. Duddy et al, the libel case concerning The God-Men, Judge Leon Seyranian commented on the weight of the testimony that had been presented to him.

References: v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v.