Lucky for the Biblical Prophets, SLAPP Laws Hadn’t Been Invented Yet

Otherwise, We Wouldn’t Have the Bible – Just Legal Settlements

It’s hard to imagine Jewish history without its prophets.
Isaiah. Jeremiah. Amos. Micah.
Men united by one defining trait:

Zero filters. Zero public relations. Zero respect for the establishment.

Now imagine them alive today.

Not wandering deserts.
Not shouting in the streets of ancient Jerusalem.
But living in a modern democracy, armed with Wi-Fi, social media – and “a formal legal notice prior to legal action.”

In other words:
Thank God SLAPP lawsuits didn’t exist in biblical times.

Otherwise, there would be no Bible.
Just clarifications. Apologies. And confidential settlements.

The Prophets – The First Disruptors (Without a Startup)

The prophets were not commentators.
They were not “critical voices.”
They were not representatives of marginalized communities.

They were dangerous.

Amos didn’t write an op-ed.
He didn’t seek balance.
He didn’t “open a dialogue.”

He said, flatly:

“I hate, I despise your festivals.”

Try publishing that today about a powerful institution and see how fast a law firm appears –
demanding retraction, apology, and compensation for “severe reputational harm.”

Prophecy in the Age of Legal Threats

Picture this:

Jeremiah, circa 587 BCE

Posts online:

“The leadership is corrupt, the system is rotten, and destruction is coming.”

Official response:

“These statements are defamatory, irresponsible, and undermine public trust.”

48 hours later:

• A cease-and-desist letter
• A gag order
• “The parties have reached an agreement outside the courtroom”

Result?

No Book of Lamentations.
Just a carefully worded clarification.

SLAPP Lawsuits – Not Meant to Win, Meant to Silence

SLAPP lawsuits (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation) are not primarily about justice.

They are about:

• Financial pain
• Psychological exhaustion
• Sending a message: Don’t try this again.

The prophets would have been perfect targets.

Not because they were wrong –
but because they refused to shut up.

The Bible as a Threat to Modern Speech Culture

The Bible, inconveniently, fails today’s standards of “responsible discourse.”

It contains:

• Brutal criticism of rulers
• Moral accusations
• No balance
• No right of reply
• No contextual disclaimers

By 2026 standards, the Bible would be flagged, restricted, or quietly removed from the curriculum.

Too accusatory.
Too absolute.
And worst of all – too honest.

Why Systems Hate Prophets (Then and Now)

A prophet doesn’t demand reform.
He doesn’t ask for mediation.
He doesn’t invite a panel discussion.

He points and says:

“This is you. This is the problem. And it will end badly.”

Systems hate that.

Not because it’s false –
but because it shatters the performance.

SLAPP lawsuits are simply the modern, polite version of “go away.”

Free Speech – As Long As It’s Polite

Modern systems love free speech.
They just prefer it:

• Soft
• Rounded
• Safe
• And non-threatening

A prophet saying:

“The people are corrupt, the leaders are rotten, and collapse is near”

does not fit the branding strategy.

So today, he wouldn’t be a prophet.

He’d be labeled:

• “Extremist”
• “Inciter”
• Or “a legal problem”

Without Prophets, There Is No Correction

If SLAPP lawsuits had existed in biblical times:

• There would be no prophecy
• No accountability
• No moral reckoning

Just silence.
Polite.
Orderly.

And silence has never saved a society from collapse.

So yes –
we’re very lucky SLAPP lawsuits weren’t invented during the age of the prophets.

Otherwise, we’d have a people without prophets,
a book without truth,
and a long list of confidential settlements.