Can a Christian support or condone torture?

[stumpjumper]

You don't see the connection between abortion and torture or you don't see the connection about how people can support or condone it?

Michelle

Well you can be Pro-life, anti-Torture, and against the death penalty.

In fact, I think that would be the logical position to hold if one were to affirm the sanctity of all life (born and unborn).

Of course that does not mean that one has to vote a certain way

 

[Miss Shelby]

Well you can be Pro-life, anti-Torture, and against the death penalty.

In fact, I think that would be the logical position to hold if one were to affirm the sanctity of all life.

I agree.

Michelle

 

[stumpjumper]

I agree.

Michelle

I agree too.

This question has now been bilaterally decided and we are all in agreement. No torture, no death penalty, and kids are a precious gift from God and should not be aborted.

Proof of the latter:



My work here is done and now I'm off...

 

[seebs]

You don't see the connection between abortion and torture or you don't see the connection about how people can support or condone it?

Michelle

Either. I could talk about torture for hours without ever once thinking about abortion, or vice versa. Euthenasia or murder debates, I can see the connection to abortion.

 

[CaDan]

I agree too.

This question has now been bilaterally decided and we are all in agreement. No torture, no death penalty, and kids are a precious gift from God and should not be aborted.

Proof of the latter:



My work here is done and now I'm off...

She looks very wise.

 

[ClaireZ]

No, Torture is evil.

It dehumanizes both the victim and the torturer. No one who could commit such acts without empathy and compassion for his fellow man, could be called Christ-like.

 

[CaDan]

Mother of the Disappeared, pray for us.

 

[Ave Maria]

I can't see torture falling under love your enemies.

Me either. This is not to mention that for Catholics, the Catechism condemns it.

2297 Kidnapping and hostage taking bring on a reign of terror; by means of threats they subject their victims to intolerable pressures. They are morally wrong. Terrorism threatens, wounds, and kills indiscriminately; it is gravely against justice and charity. Torture which uses physical or moral violence to extract confessions, punish the guilty, frighten opponents, or satisfy hatred is contrary to respect for the person and for human dignity. Except when performed for strictly therapeutic medical reasons, directly intended amputations, mutilations, and sterilizations performed on innocent persons are against the moral law.

 

[Ave Maria]

In my opinion, one who is truly Pro-Life is also anti-death penalty, anti-torture, anti-embryonic stem cell research, anti-human cloning, and anti-euthanasia. They would also be against anything else that threatens or demeans the sanctity of life.

 

[TheReasoner]

In my opinion, one who is truly Pro-Life is also anti-death penalty, anti-torture, anti-embryonic stem cell research, anti-human cloning, and anti-euthanasia. They would also be against anything else that threatens or demeans the sanctity of life.

I could not agree more.

Reps

 

[chi_rho]

no, i dont think anyone should, including christians and non christians!

 

[Pacifist]

Can Christians support or condone torture?

Absolutely not. Period. There is no grey area.

 

[rejectreality]

Should a Christian condone torture? I think that certain means of interrogation, ie means of getting information from someone, is ok as long as: it does not leave a person emotionally, physically, or mentally scared for the rest of their life.

However, making someone completely uncomfortable (like putting a person in a room with pictures of a woman because they hate woman) is ok by me. Notice, that won't cause permanent damage.

But the kind of torture used against Jesus, or more recently by Stalin, Hitler, and other terrible dictators, is completely UNACCEPTABLE!

 

[ChristianCenturion]

No real fancy anything here. Just; Can a Christian really condone or support torture? Is torture something a Christian can give the OK?

[edit]
Re-phrased; Would Jesus condone torture? As we are supposed to be little Christs the answer to that question should be our answer to this poll
[/edit]

No.
But as I have found out discussing this with others, there is an issue over what constitutes torture.
Not to go into depth or speak for them, but from what I can infer, various people in my life have committed heinous crimes against humanity (me) without even my knowledge and that I could have had the U.N. speak against them and perhaps imprison them.

My parents for striking me.

My teachers for making me stand in front of the class with my hands held out to the side.

My superiors in the military when they forced me to be out to sea for long periods of time, deprived me of sleep, made me do drills fighting fires, gas chamber, physical fitness testing, working while sick, having to crawl into CHT tanks (look it up), etc.

My friends for dragging me, tying me up, blindfolding me, various follies done during an initiation, or any other physical application.

The police for detaining me without first having a conviction from a court.

My neighbors for playing loud music.

My wife for taking my picture without me being conscious.

Various Atheists or other religions for not respecting my religious beliefs or outright mocking them.

... the list is allegedly very long.

As you can see, I believe there are other things to consider before being able to call something torture and I would disagree with some of the more liberal (little "L") assertions.

 

[CaDan]

No.
But as I have found out discussing this with others, there is an issue over what constitutes torture.
Not to go into depth or speak for them, but from what I can infer, various people in my life have committed heignous crimes against humanity (me) without even my knowledge that I could have had the U.N. speak against them and perhaps imprison them.

My parents for striking me.

My teachers for making me stand in front of the class with my hands held out to the side.

My superiors in the military when they forced me to be out to sea for long periods of time, deprived me of sleep, made me do drills fighting fires, gas chamber, physical fitness testing, working while sick, having to crawl into CHT tanks (look it up), etc.

My friends for dragging me, tying me up, blindfolding me, various follies done during an initiation, or any other physical application.

The police for detaining me without first having a conviction from a court.

My neighbors for playing loud music.

My wife for taking my picture without me being conscious.

Various Atheists or other religions for not respecting my religious beliefs or outright mocking them.

... the list is allegedly very long.

As you can see, I believe there are other things to consider before being able to call something torture and I would disagree with some of the more liberal (little "L")assertions.

It seems to me one of the distinguishing characteristics is the intent of the person inflicting suffering on another.

 

[ChristianCenturion]

It seems to me one of the distinguishing characteristics is the intent of the person inflicting suffering on another.

I would agree.