American Christians and Torture

Results were released from a survey that asked 600 white Protestant Southerners about their views of torture. The results suggest that a majority believe that torture can be justified -- about 57% . That's larger than the number of Americans all together -- which is about 48%. What is interesting that a large percentage have made this decision not on the basis of Christian faith, but on their experiences as Americans.

This is a sad testimony to American Christianity. My sense is that this view isn't limited to Southern Protestants, but is representative of Christianity as a whole. We are followers of one who was tortured and died on a Roman cross, and yet in defense of our nation we would embrace the same principles as Jesus' Roman opponents.

Comments

Allan R. Bevere said…
Bob:

I think you are spot on, on this one. I also think part of the issue is that Christians in America are just as pragmatic as everyone else. We are,sadly, ends justifies the means people. Thus we support torture if it will reveal information that will save lives or contribute to the greater good. There is no consideration that how something is achieved is just as important, if not moreso, than what is achieved.

Not nearly enough Christians think on how their faith might come to bear on the subject. We who lead the church must take part of the responsibility for this failure.
Anonymous said…
As a southern Christian, this got my attention. Yes, I can actually see this being the case in certain parts of the south. My personal feeling is that its on "experience", seriously, how many of us have to make this choice.. but rather on political stance.

I would throw out one large word of caution. The justification to use torture could sound awfully close to that of those who justify abortion. The end justifies the means.. how life will be much "worse" if we don't bend on this issue, etc. Just a thought
Steve Kindle said…
The same percentage (or higher)of Southerners also support the death penalty, as well as the majority of Americans. Couple this to our general lack of concern for the marginalized and our rampant materialism and American Christianity deserves an F in praxis. However, we can take solace that we're keeping those damn gays from taking over the country!
Steve Kindle said…
The same percentage (or higher) of Southerners also support the death penalty, as well as the majority of Americans. Couple this to our general lack of concern for the marginalized and our rampant materialism and American Christianity deserves an F in praxis. However, we can take solace that we're keeping those damn gays from taking over the country!
www.clergyunited.org
Anonymous said…
As I thought more on this issue, I think the issue is actually one of teaching. The apostles knew that they did not need to enact revenge in this life, as the final judgment would be God's wrath unveiled. I see this when God told the disciples to brush off the dust on their feet then a town opposed the message.

Today, the thought is we must administer justice or else the evil doers go free. Because we love to talk about how much God is love, we forget about his wrath. The persecution of Jesus day would PALE in comparison to any potential harm from terrorists. The people wanted a Messiah to rise up and take down the Roman kingdom, but instead he offered a far greater kingdom that could not be taken by force.
Anonymous said…
To Anonymous,

Do we too ask Jesus to rise up and thwart our enemies?

Just as Jesus surprised his disciples with the nature of his messianic mission, how does he surprise us today?

Are we any more ready to accept His surprising mission today than were the Jews of 2000 years ago? Do we also choose to crucify the real Jesus in favor of a more palatable and more barbaric Barabbas?

John
Anonymous said…
Bob,

Interesting that the average Christian who knows nothing about the efficacy of torture favors it when the professionals in the realm of interrogation universally deny that it is a reliable tool.

So too, the Bush Cheney people refused to learn from their own experts when they attempted to expanded the legal scope of methods torture.

All of this is nothing more than a reaction from fear and an overcommitment to the use of force as a threat response of first resort.

John
Anonymous said…
I don't think its fair to paint this as a failure of Southern American Christianity - I think it is likely representative of a nationwide mindset. And there can be no question that it is a failure of Christianity as a whole that our teaching has failed to communicate what is perhaps Jesus' most often repeated tenet: "fear not."

John

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