American Christian Flashpoint: Torture!

"Okay, what? THAT'S a flashpoint!?"

Maybe I have indeed lost my marbles, but follow me and maybe it will clear up. I read this article today in the USATODAY website. The title is "Poll shows support for torture among Southern evangelicals" Below is the first couple of paragraphs from the article:

By Adelle M. Banks, Religion News Service

WASHINGTON — A new poll finds that nearly six in 10 white Southern evangelicals believe torture is justified, but their views can shift when they consider the Christian principle of the golden rule.

The poll released Thursday, commissioned by Faith in Public Life and Mercer University, found that 57% of respondents said torture can be often or sometimes justified to gain important information from suspected terrorists. Thirty-eight percent said it was never or rarely justified. But when asked if they agree that "the U.S. government should not use methods against our enemies that we would not want used on American soldiers," the percentage who said torture was rarely or never justified rose to 52%.

"Presenting people with this argument and identifying with the golden rule really does engage a different part of people's psyche and a part of their heart, their soul, and really does shift their views on torture," said Robert Jones, president of Public Religion Research, which was commissioned to conduct the poll.

The findings of this poll, which did not define torture, compared to a Pew Research Center poll from February that found that 48% of the general public think torture can be justified.

The new poll found that 44% of white Southern evangelicals rely on life experiences and common sense to determine their views about torture. A lower percentage, 28%, said they relied on Christian teachings or beliefs.

In summary, the Christians polled had a higher degree of thinking torture could be justified than the general public of the nation. Upon hearing the pollster remind them of the golden rule, 14% of the 600 decided to change their mind. More subscribed this to "life experiences and common sense" than to "Christian teaching or beliefs."

I know this is controversial, as well as extremely discomforting. But we need to talk about this.

I'll tell you what I first thought about this article: I dismissed it. The poll was skewed. Those "Southern evangelicals" don't represent me. Torture could be justified, it makes sense. I pictured a radical Islamic terrorist with the abort code to a dozen nuclear warheads bearing down on America soil. We need that code.

Well, the poll might have been skewed, but my thoughts most certainly were. "Southern" and "evangelical" these people may be, but I bet they identified themselves as Christians. Most probably were. I tried to justify torture myself--I was one of them. Not all terrorists are radical Islamic, or even Islamic for that matter. Regardless of faith, we don't want to allow our American troops to be tortured, but we'd certainly do it to them. I've dehumanized them. I didn't consider them to be the type of enemies that I should pray for. I was certainly not wanting to repay evil with good in this circumstance. Not that it mattered, I wasn't doing the torturing. I rationalized that this was different, that this was necessary, that the ends justified the means.

People, make no mistake. Across the globe, torture is generally accepted as immoral regardless of circumstances. Not to mention illegal. The Geneva Convention implicitly prevents it. The United Nations Convention against Torture explicitly forbids it, even in times of war. There is evidence that shows explicitly forbidding torture produces far more reliable information than otherwise. It was claimed by a U.S. Army General. Read it here. Read another article about there being dubious evidence of torture saving lives. Look at the Wikipedia page for waterboarding for an example of the methods--remember, it was debated not too long ago that this wasn't torture. Don't take my word on all of that--It would pay dividens for you to research it yourself.

What about scriptural proof? I'll be honest, I haven't done a full blown study on it yet--which is kind of funny, because it almost supports the statistic above that we ground our belief for torture from life experiences instead of the Bible. Hmm.. Here's one guy's findings saying that beatings aren't forbidden, and neither is torture. Of course, on the other hand, here's an article from Christianity Today about 5 Reasons Torture Is Always Wrong, which in my opinion seems to be more researched than the previous.

As for my thoughts, I will say I find it intriguing how God has a way of rooting for those who are oppressed (the sinners, the Israelites, slaves, captives, orphans, widows...), and isn't too pleased with those in power who abuse it. Does this translate to captives in torture, and the torturer? Possibly. Also consider what you do and how you think when you're intensely angry and yelling at someone, and how things get out of hand. I'd imagine the torturer would have the same problem, and things would most certainly get out of hand (with the pressures of believing the captive has pertinent information, and that the captive is defying him). And here's a zinger--would you do the torture yourself? Would you be willing to be present? If you wouldn't, why is it okay to make someone else do the dirty work?

Needless to say, I also came across plenty of blogs and articles that blasted Christians for hypocritical ethics in this matter. It could be rationalized that they'd all sing a different tune if the conditions changed, but I'm not concerned about their issue with torture at the moment. Right now I'm concerned about ours.

The mere fact the issue causes many of us to squirm (self included) makes me think we're not being honest with ourselves. It's quite possible we may need to do some explaining. And I don't mean to non-Christians (although that's not a bad idea). I mean God.

Of course, you can disagree with me. As I said before, this is indeed an ethical dilemma. We're going to lose the argument either way to somebody, and yet feel strongly about our decisions. I'm not going to insist you side with me, but I do want you to consider it. What I really want is for your faith to play a role in your decision.

As for me, I will no longer justify torture. Please forgive me for putting my fears above my faith. Pray that my decisions are increasingly based on my faith, and that my faith is not based on my decisions. And that I personally read the Bible for God's answer on the matter.

American Christian Flashpoint: The First Amendment!

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Welcome to another edition of American Christian Flashpoint! Today I want to delve into the sore topic of prayer in schools, commandments in front of civil service buildings, and Creationism/Evolutionism dual teaching.

I was intrigued on what I recently read about the display of the Ten Commandments outside of courthouses. When all of this was happening, I had not paid much attention to what was going on, and in the current days it seems this is rolled up into a virtual assault of the non-Christian Americans against the Christian Americans.

If you want to read more about this, click here to visit a portion of Wikipedia's page about the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. What I found was intriguing--that the Supreme Court had ruled both ways in different circumstances of religious displays (which I didn't know before reading that). Now, I understand that the Supreme Court has been setting a broader interpretation of the Establishment Clause since the sixties, but I wasn't alive before then, and I couldn't attest to that myself. I've heard it argued that this represents the censoring of our Christian heritage as a nation, which is difficult for me to swallow on two parts: One, I don't think our nation is (or was) as Christian as it is sometimes bulked up to be (see the First Amendment, above), and second, I somehow equate this to the Dixie Flag in the South--to some it expresses heritage, but to others, it expresses oppression and prejudice. I'm totally in favor of the Ten Commandments not expressing prejudice, even to non-believers. And, on a bright note, if there's no stone tablet in front of the courthouse, nobody can claim that Christianity was the reason they lost in court!

And state-sanctioned prayer in school. To that I gently and respectfully rebuke: What are you, nuts?! The last group that I want teaching theology to my (currently rhetorical) kids is the State! Talk about giving pearls to swine! Even going to school in a private Christian school in my 7th and 8th grade, there was enough teaching there that drove me away from who I now understand is Christ. I think handing over the mantle of spiritual teaching of your kids to a third party is a really risky business.

And lastly the whole Evolution and Creation studies of How The World Began--this one I can't argue in favor of just evolution being taught. I must agree that I think Darwin's Evolution Theory has become a religion to many people, and they do not want to see their golden calf be called for what it is. I would like to have teachers stress that evolution is still very much a theory, but ultimately I've resigned this argument and chalk it up to the fact that our government won't always lean in our favor (see the First Amendment, above). Although the Intelligent Design theory is showing movement, and may one day replace the Evolution Theory of Darwin, it hasn't by a long shot--and I want to reiterate that I don't want a teacher (who may very well not be a Christian) teaching kids theology. Just trouble all over!

Although it may seem at times that Christianity is losing a foothold in the mainstream culture of America, I don't really think it's that bad. Through history, Christianity seems to exponentially multiply when put under pressure. If you don't trust history, trust God on this one. We're to expect persecution because of Him, remember! And we're to rejoice!

And so, there you have it. Of course, remember that these thoughts I have didn't come from Mt. Sinai (get it?). There's room for variance here. I'll still eat with you if you disagree with me. These opinions I raise have zero value when placed next to God's Word, and I'm well aware I could quite possibly be absolutely wrong (or partially right, for that matter). And feel free to rebuke me on it, just make sure you have some Biblical proofs ready and you do it in gentleness in respect. That will make for some good fellowship, and we both could come out of it with praise for the Creator. I definitely wouldn't pass up on that opportunity.

American Christian Flashpoint: Politics!

So, I caught a portion of Sarah Palin's speech from last night, and read some commentaries. Truth be told, I didn't like it. Not one bit. I'll be surprised to see how the Grand Ol' Party continues on their attack lines of experience and celebrity status. Knowing what I know of politics, they'll find a way. I'm hoping that Joe Biden mops the floor with McCain's VP in the upcoming debate.

Okay, okay. Enough. Chances are, you either lean or vigorously define yourself to the right of where I stand as far as politics goes. There were some days not long ago I'd fight to the bitter end to define what right was, and how you're nowhere near that mark, but the sun seems to set on my era of clashing on the political battlefield.

It really began ending when Dr. James Dobson made some distinctively abrasive remarks about Senator Obama's speech of 2006 at some political religious conference symposium whatever, and only two years later does Dr. Dobson lash out. And let me tell you, he let Obama have it. He left nothing unclear on how much he disliked the speech, and how much Obama distorted the Bible, and how he would spell D-O-O-M to Christian life in America as we know it.

Only after I read Dr. Dobson's remarks did I read Obama's speech. And I liked it. Not all of it, mind you, but I thought there were some brilliant ideas, and some very respectable ways to approach running America as a Christian.

Perhaps later I'll explain precisely why the Christian Right gives me the spooks, but not now. After some long contemplation of the speech and the counter argument, and a counter-counter argument by someone at the Washington Post, I was deeply saddened by it all. I don't know Dr. Dobson, nor do I follow him closely. I couldn't even tell you any of the names of the books he may or may have not written. But I know he does God's work. That argument didn't seem much like God's work at all. It was sounding more like a clashing symbol, or a clanging gong.

And in reviewing my brooding thoughts about Sarah Palin and John McSame, I realized I had been smashing symbols around like a creepy smiling monkey for the past couple of months.

Romans 13. Read it. One part of it says authorities are to be respected and obeyed, because God put them there for a reason. The other part of the chapter talks about fufilling the Law through love.

Jesus had to deal with politics, but that wasn't his main concern. Not by a long shot. His concern was sinners, such as you and I. And His love did some amazing things, and actually changed people forever. It changed me--it tought me what love really was, and what life really meant when you understood that God, the God, was not mad at you in the least, and that He loved you so dearly He couldn't stand being apart from you, even if that's what you insisted upon.

That, right there, is more than enough reason to live. And it blows the heck out of trying to advance agendas and trying to spin stories and cutting down the ones you should love.

So, for the time being, I'm done with it. I'll still vote, and I'll still vote what I think is right for our country, but it's time for some out-of-the-box thinking on this political stuff. It has so little to do with why we claim salvation with Christ, and there's so many better things to do with my time and energy. Like listening to Dr. Dobson once in a while, and thanking God that He called that guy to His name. Like encouraging my brothers and sisters who vote against my celebrity of choice, or don't vote at all. Like loving other sinners even if they think I'm a nutcase. Like praising the one true God.