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THE QUESTION
Torture
Can the use of torture ever be justified?
Posted by
Sally Quinn and Jon Meacham on November 7, 2007 5:55 AM
FROM THE PANEL
Unconditional Forgiveness
Vengeance, revenge, the desire to get even – these are the responses of people who do not understand how fragile civilization is.
Posted by John Shelby Spong, on November 15, 2007 9:01 AM
Tortured Values, Tortured Logic
It’s a tragic commentary on our times that questions about the efficacy of torture are even asked.
Posted by Welton Gaddy, on November 13, 2007 8:13 AM
Torture: Finally, A Real Values Issue
Islamist terrorists are no more likely to be telling the truth under torture than were Jews who renounced their religion and embraced Christianity during the Inquisition.
Posted by Susan Jacoby, on November 13, 2007 7:06 AM
Torturing Ourselves to Death
It is not coincidental that the trailer for the new season of the TV series "24" features Jack Bauer testifying before a congressional committee on the subject of torture.
Posted by Cal Thomas, on November 13, 2007 6:33 AM
War Can Kill the Body, but Torture Destroys the Soul
n employing the tactic of torture, (and please, let us not add the disgrace of lying about the fact that we torture), we have descended as people into moral degradation.
Posted by Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite, on November 13, 2007 5:52 AM
Torture is Always Wrong
What brought torture back into vogue (and into the Inquisition) was the growing influence of Roman law after the 11th Century.
Posted by Thomas G. Bohlin, on November 11, 2007 5:16 PM
Torturing the Very Idea of America
Whether motivated by revulsion of the act of torture, pity for the victim, respect for human dignity, or charity for all, most human beings and most nations regard torture as a moral evil
Posted by James Anderson, on November 11, 2007 4:59 PM
Torture, Hypocrisy and Faith
The American faith narrative repudiates torture under all circumstances and without exception.
Posted by Samuel Rodriguez, on November 11, 2007 3:39 PM
Theists, Atheists Fighting Torture Together?
Should the non-religious join and support specifically religious campaigns and coalitions?
Posted by Greg M. Epstein, on November 11, 2007 2:42 PM
The Cost of Torture
Apart from torture being inhuman it also escalates violence to a new level.
Posted by Arun Gandhi, on November 10, 2007 8:59 PM
Torture: No
You don't torture someone "made in the image of God," no matter how despicable he or she has become.
Posted by Martin Marty, on November 9, 2007 4:33 PM
Justified Under Some Circumstances
If a competent authority honestly believed that torture was the only way to get information that might save the lives of thousands, I believe he would be justified.
Posted by Charles "Chuck" Colson, on November 9, 2007 3:58 PM
Torture Wrong but Popular
When we have an administration that seems to waffle on declaring all forms of torture off-limits, I can't help but wonder what other people make of us these days?
Posted by Gustav Niebuhr, on November 9, 2007 1:53 PM
Torture: A Temptation We Must Resist
Torture is beneath our calling and a dangerous, ugly temptation that must be resisted for the sake of our humanity.
Posted by Gabriel Salguero, on November 8, 2007 1:53 PM
Dirty Harry for President
It would be ironic and perverse for Christians, who worship a man who was tortured and killed, to use torture themselves.
Posted by Thomas J. Reese, S.J., on November 8, 2007 12:20 PM
How Much Pain is "Severe"?
International law says that pain-infliction is permissible as long as the pain is not SEVERE. I agree and reject arguments that no inflicting of pain can be justified.
Posted by Willis E. Elliott, on November 8, 2007 10:11 AM
Torture Is Never Justified
The use of torture undermines our moral credibility and makes a lie of any claims that we stand for democracy or even decency. Every time we torture, we create a hundred new enemies.
Posted by Starhawk, on November 7, 2007 6:27 AM
The Moral Cost of Torture
Torturing secretly and then seeking to defend torture as a valid moral option only hardens us in a monstrous identity.
Posted by Brian D. McLaren, on November 7, 2007 5:18 AM
FEATURED COMMENTS
Mic: How does our country find people who would do these horrific things to another living being? It degrades the torturer and the one who order...
A Hermit: We now see American officials abroad refusing to condemn the practice of waterboarding even if it is used on American service members.
How ...
martiniano: Torture is valid IF you also wish to be tortured. The basic rule of civilization is this "Treat people the way you wish to be treated". The ...
