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THE QUESTION
The Torture Debate
The UN Convention Against Torture states that torture should be abolished because it violates "human dignity." From your perspective, what is wrong with torture? Should perpetrators be prosecuted? What does your faith tradition have to say about torture?
Posted by
Sally Quinn and Jon Meacham on April 29, 2009 12:31 AM
FROM THE PANEL
One Being Should Not Hurt Another
Torture betrays the Hindu concept of ahimsa, wishing no harm to another being, the highest law.
Posted by Rajan Zed, on May 11, 2009 5:19 PM
Torturing the Image of God
The choice is whether America is to celebrate the Infinite God or the tyrannical Caesar. To affirm the Image of God in every human being, or to fall at the feet of Empire.
Posted by Arthur Waskow, on May 11, 2009 3:32 PM
Torture is Wrong in So Many Ways
Torture, like slavery, is one of those grand old human traditions that most civilized humans have now (in theory) turned against.
Posted by Susan Jacoby, on May 11, 2009 2:57 PM
Caesar Tortures, Not Jesus
Torture is incompatible with a great nation and with the beliefs of the Christian majority of that nation. We must act as the Prince of Peace would act and not as Caesar did.
Posted by John Mark Reynolds, on May 11, 2009 2:19 PM
The Wrong Question
The real question in war time is what kind of behavior constitutes torture? That seems to me to be a factual question before it is a theological question.
Posted by Charles "Chuck" Colson, on May 11, 2009 2:16 PM
Witches Abhor Torture
In our 'thealogy,' the Goddess is immanent in every human being. Torture is a desecration of the sacred. It dehumanizes both the victims and the perpetrators, who must warp their souls and shut off any sense of empathy or compassion to carry it out. It erodes the moral ground we stand on when we as a nation allow torture in our name.
Posted by Starhawk, on May 11, 2009 11:58 AM
Torture is Wrong, Until It Saves a Life
The very notion of torture sickens me. I am almost 100% certain that it must always be opposed. But I live with the awareness that if it was my kid and I genuinely believed that torture would save their lives, I might think differently.
Posted by Brad Hirschfield, on May 11, 2009 9:29 AM
Torture Not the Way of Jesus or Us
Any society that sanctions torture has lost its moral compass and threatens the ethical integrity of all its people.
Posted by Gabriel Salguero, on May 11, 2009 9:24 AM
Torture is Always Wrong
Torture is always wrong, because the tortured person dies more than once.
Posted by Elie Wiesel, on April 30, 2009 1:23 PM
Torture is Wrong. Period.
How can a person be against abortion and for torture?
Posted by Susan K. Smith, on April 29, 2009 9:07 AM
Torture is Moral Stupidity
Truth is the bedrock of morality--and the fount of religious wisdom. In the last few years, however, Americans became morally stupid about torture. That there is even the appearance of a debate about torture illustrates how disconnecting truth from reality makes you morally stupid.
Posted by Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite, on April 28, 2009 8:16 AM
Condemn Torture, Then Define It
Torture is ambiguous, its value is challenged, and its use should be restrained, by its violation of some essential human values.
Posted by Willis E. Elliott, on April 28, 2009 12:04 AM
FEATURED COMMENTS
*apostle: Torture is an abomination, and so is terrorism. So, torture should be outlawed. But, there is a time, that rare, desperation time, when a te...
bartatheart: Yes, I believe in torture -- and don't see it as a religious question because it's not about an individual's following God. It's about a gov...
SwingState: Torture is never acceptable and I think it's simple to tell what's torture and what's not. If someone does it to your kid and it's torture,...
