Why is Torture Always Wrong?

Yesterday, in my sermon, I mentioned torture -- wondering how Christians, who claim to serve a God defined by love, a God whom we know through the crucified one, could support torture. This in response to a recent poll that suggests that the more we go to church, the more likely we'll support the use of torture. Of course, it's quite likely that in this choice its not religion but political affiliation that is the key.

As I continue to ponder this question, I've not found those definitive biblical texts, though I think the call to love one's enemy is sufficient and clear.

27"But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. (Luke 6:27-28, NIV)


But, as we consider this, let me throw out these five points made several years ago by evangelical ethicist/moral theologian David Gushee in a Christianity Today essay.

1. "Torture violates the dignity of the human being." (We are, he says, created in the image of God, and torture defaces the dignity of one's created in the image of God" -- Genesis 1:26-28).

2. "Torture mistreats the vulnerable and violates the demands of justice." (Ex. 22:21-23 -- God hears the cry of the alien).

3. "Authorizing torture trusts government too much." (A reminder that we're sinners -- Romans 3:10-18. And there's a quote from conservative theologian Richard John Neuhaus -- "We dare not trust ourselves to torture.")

4. "Torture dehumanizes the torturer." (We can be tempted to fall into the trap of sadism).

5. "Torture erodes the character of the nation that tortures." --- Gushee writes:

A nation is a collective moral entity with a character, an identity that carries across time. Causes come and go, threats come and go, but the enduring question for any social entity is who we are as a people. This is true of a family, a church, a school, a civic club, or a town. It is certainly true of a nation.

Sen. John McCain, who has led the Republican charge against torture, recently said, "This isn't about who they are. This is about who we are. These are the values that distinguish us from our enemies."


Although I don't buy the argument that the United States was or is a "Christian nation," but if as most surveys suggest, we are a Christian majority nation, then the values of Jesus should be present in our moral debates. We may not agree as to how we apply our faith or scripture, but these are important issues that won't go away. I do believe that our image as a nation and our moral authority have been degraded because we have allowed ourselves to use and justify torture.


Comments

John said…
Bob,

Once again while compelling in their own right, these arguments are not directly from Scriptural.

We will have to work on this. Folks are entitled to know that their position in opposition have scriptural support.

John
Anonymous said…
The fact that you suggest we need to find (more) specific tracts to support not torturing makes me incredibly uneasy John.

You don't even need the Bible to understand. It's common sense- horse sense as I said before. Look at the constitution. It's the law of the land. If you really can’t see the way, at least "Render unto Caesar..." How many did we win over with this? How incredibly lazy and unimaginative are leaders and lawyers were.

Does God need to tell you the sky looks blue?

Who are you trying to put in the best light now? Nancy P, Obama?

David Mc
Anonymous said…
The fact that you suggest we need to find (more) specific tracts to support not torturing makes me incredibly uneasy John.

You don't even need the Bible to understand. It's common sense- horse sense as I said before. Look at the constitution. It's the law of the land. If you really can’t see the way, at least "Render unto Caesar..." How many did we win over with this? How incredibly lazy and unimaginative are leaders and lawyers were.

Does God need to tell you the sky looks blue?

Who are you trying to put in the best light now? Nancy P, Obama?

David Mc
Anonymous said…
very odd. A double post.
John said…
David,

Do not be uneasy. I am an attorney by trade. So seeking support for my position is reflexive. It is not a sign of waivering on my part, but a sign of gearing up for battle.

It is likely that the additional Scriptural support may not exist. That will not make right that which is wrong. But that is not a reason not to look deeper.

I am thinking about those who require Scriptural support before they will accept the notion that Christians should favor or oppose an issue. I would like to be equipped to respond. If there is not additional Scriptural support, then I will think about how to frame my arguments around the support which exists.

My critique of the support I have found so far is that it just does not appear direct enough.

John
Anonymous said…
A criminal attorney?

I thought maybe you were trying your hand at "trolling".

This is universal, or so I thought. I guess some can't see the forest for the trees.

http://www.religioustolerance.org/reciproc.htm

David Mc
John said…
David,

Certainly those Christians who tolerate torture cannot see the forest of justice and human dignity (for victim and torturer) through the trees of personal threat and security.

John
Anonymous said…
Hey, that was a good link. And even the scientologists agree!

Jesus would have heard...

What is hateful to you, do not to your fellow man. This is the law: all the rest is commentary." Talmud, Shabbat 31a

I really like this one...

Yoruba: (Nigeria): "One going to take a pointed stick to pinch a baby bird should first try it on himself to feel how it hurts.

David Mc
John said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
John said…
Here are my thoughts on Scripture and torture after a day of pondering:

In the Hebrew Scriptures we are informed at the very beginning, before human history begins, that each human being is made in the image and likeness of God. As such each of us is a reflection of the divinity and person of the Creator. A debasement of a human being then is a direct assault on the Divine Image we reflect, torture is a sacrilege against the Creator.

We are commanded in the New Testament to love one another as God loves us, and that we are love our enemies, pray for them, and do good to them. Jesus says that to be angry with a brother or even to insult him is to make oneself liable to the hell of fire. Torturing someone, even and enemy, especially an enemy, is clearly beyond the pale.

The Apostle Paul, while seeming to acknowledge that torture is not permissible without a legal trial and conviction, as Luke records in the Book of Acts, is yet more clear in his teaching when he writes that the human body is a temple of the Lord, and that God's Spirit dwells in us and "if anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy that person. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple."

And when personally threatened, Jesus not only turned the other cheek, but he healed the ear of the very soldier who threatened his life and told his followers to put away their swords.

We are each children of God, regardless of our sin, and we are entitled to be honored as such.

Not that I doubted that Scripture would speak clearly, I justed needed to let it work its way through me.

John
This is excellent. I'll link here.

I have reluctantly concluded that there is more continuity than discontinuity between Bush and Obama on human rights and civil liberties as I demonstrate on my blog. Sad. I was hoping that we'd avoid Clintonian triangulation in this admin. Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) is right: Since the inauguration, Obama has become increasingly conservative on one issue after another.
Anonymous said…
And now comes this...

http://men.style.com/gq/features/landing?&id=content_9217

Michael, you and John Conyers are correct in my book.

I need to quote a Cohen song again-

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in.

We asked for signs
the signs were sent:
the birth betrayed
the marriage spent
Yeah the widowhood
of every government --
signs for all to see.

I can't run no more
with that lawless crowd
while the killers in high places
say their prayers out loud.
But they've summoned, they've summoned up a thundercloud
and they're going to hear from me.

Ring the bells that still can ring ...

David Mc
Anonymous said…
https://secure.aclu.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=Nat_Petition_SpecialProsecutor&s_src=UNW090001ACT&s_subsrc=flyer&JServSessionIdr010=o377e8lg62.app17a
Anonymous said…
The wars are not the only torture venue here. I'll be accused of coddling for this I'm sure. On the other hand, I may find uncommon common ground (Gary here?).

When a man (or a woman) is sent to prison in the US, even in mainstream TV culture, it is assumed that the weak will likely be raped by another of the same sex. This is great prime time humor in fact.

Why does this seem to be condoned to an casual observer (me)?

Wouldn't the knowledge of this being allowed be mental torture to (most- nsee sadist) prisoners?

Why do we treat ourselves this way?

David Mc
John said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
John said…
So now we have to ask several more questions:

1) what constitutes wrongful torture and what constitutes permissible interrogation techniques?

2) are there circumstances so dire that the dignity and sacred personhood of one person must take a back seat saving the lives of others, perhaps many others?

It is easy to draw lines, it is not so easy to color within those lines, especially when there are so many shades of gray involved.

I don't have a clear response to these questions yet. It is sometimes easy for the prophet to speak the truth about what God calls us to; but decision makers for sovereign governments must take prudential concerns into consideration, and perhaps those considerations will outweigh the truth claims of the prophet.

What is the prophetic response when their truth claims are trumped by prudential concerns in the decision-making process?

John
Robert Cornwall said…
John, we have problems I think when we define ourselves by the "what if's". Bonhoeffer assumed that to kill another human being was wrong -- no caveats or nuances allowed. And yet, he participated in the plot to kill Hitler. He never justified it -- it had to be done, but it ran contrary to his beliefs.
John said…
Bob,

So then Bonhoeffer's response to my last two questions, is that notwithstanding his status as a prophet, he believed he was compelled to accept the fact that in an imperfect world the believer must sometimes ignore the call of the prophet and do the prudential thing?

It is a muddy world we live in. If Bonhoeffer's response is morally and theologically acceptable for Christians, then who are we to call into question the opinions of other Christians who approve of torture on prudential grounds?

(This whole discussion ignores the question of the efficacy of torture, and assumes for the sake if discussion that it produces positive results often enough to justify its use. If torture 'never' works then this whole discussion is pointless.)

John
Robert Cornwall said…
John,

I think that ultimately, as Christians, we must discuss this question on moral grounds, not on whether it's effective or not.

As for Bonhoeffer, he would never suggest that his decision should be seen as an example for anyone. Unfortunately I long ago lent out my copy of Letters and Papers from Prison and the new edition is not yet out. But let me see what I can find on what Bonhoeffer might say on this and other topics.
Anonymous said…
Bob said, but should include all-"I think that ultimately, as Christians, we must discuss this question on moral grounds, not on whether it's effective or not."
---------------------------------
If they were/are guilty, and if they knew/know of information and plots to hurt innocent persons. Wouldn't their silence be self-torture? Wouldn't it be even more severe torture if we treated them with common respect as human beings- which they are, right?

Did we torture because we KNEW lies would be told (See Al Qaeda link in Iraq)? This is likely.

David Mc

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