tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5397103.post5776298604088939902..comments2024-01-02T18:05:23.666-06:00Comments on Streak's Blog: My rant and the continuing conversation about tortureStreakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01443433745929880701noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5397103.post-43946948107530530832011-11-05T21:58:45.949-05:002011-11-05T21:58:45.949-05:00I haven't been on the blogs much lately and am...I haven't been on the blogs much lately and am glad to know I still have a slight influence on this blog. :)<br /><br />I've had some incredulous conversations about torture as well and it seems there is always some sort of justification. "Scripture doesn't say anything about it." So? There aren't other principles that can be applied to guide a reasonable response other than "Well, they're evil." Anyway.Tonyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13090951749017263188noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5397103.post-91021131554161758972011-11-04T23:13:24.358-05:002011-11-04T23:13:24.358-05:00Here's another article that seems on topic. Th...Here's <a href="http://harpers.org/archive/2005/08/0080695" rel="nofollow">another article</a> that seems on topic. The author is a Christian himself and thus has grounds to opine on what should matter to Christians:<br /><br /><i>But one day it occurred to me that the parts of the world where people actually had cut dramatically back on their carbon emissions, actually did live voluntarily in smaller homes and take public transit, were the same countries where people were giving aid to the poor and making sure everyone had health care—countries like Norway and Sweden, where religion was relatively unimportant. How could that be? For Christians there should be something at least a little scary in the notion that, absent the magical answers of religion, people might just get around to solving their problems and strengthening their communities in more straightforward ways. </i><br /><br />I would love it if adult believers got together and actually made the cultural meaning of "faith" something different than comforting the comfortable and afflicting the afflicted. I'm skeptical that this will actually happen, for a variety of reasons (not least of which is that the corporate media adores bibliolaters); but I can at least not discourage the people who are trying.leightonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07821884432248870789noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5397103.post-38626248846859267472011-11-04T22:00:12.725-05:002011-11-04T22:00:12.725-05:00Torture is an intrinsic moral evil. It always has ...Torture is an intrinsic moral evil. It always has been, and in Christian Moral Theology, it is a Mortal Sin.<br /><br />It is impossible for a Christian to argue in the affirmative for Torture without committing a grave offense against the <i>Imageo Dei</i> that makes each person unique, bearing the Image of God.<br /><br />To advocate Torture also requires a Torturer, and to imperil another's soul with this ghastly stain is not a Christian, ethical thing to do. <br /><br />It is a sad fact that most of the Church in our region would join with your friend. :(<br /><br />PS I met 'anewanglican' for the first time today outside of a blog. Nice fella.Monk-in-Traininghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07373661525025912462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5397103.post-58377361557648272262011-11-04T15:37:56.621-05:002011-11-04T15:37:56.621-05:00Saw this and immediately wanted to pass it on to y...Saw <a href="http://www.hometownprophetbook.com/the-real-christian-candidate/" rel="nofollow">this</a> and immediately wanted to pass it on to you for the ongoing conversation on this blog.Noahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14345059376742159966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5397103.post-30034359290509906762011-11-04T15:23:39.398-05:002011-11-04T15:23:39.398-05:00Even setting aside the religious argument against ...Even setting aside the religious argument against torture, it is clearly a violation of federal law an several treaties. I have a hard time understanding people that are ok with ignoring this. Some of them would say "what about the ticking time bomb scenario?". I suppose they could torture the suspect and then be arrested. If they turned out to be right, then I a jury would likely let them off.steveshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08862590608695420004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5397103.post-44939426769083663542011-11-04T10:27:51.161-05:002011-11-04T10:27:51.161-05:00Yep, it's frustrating. I know way too many peo...Yep, it's frustrating. I know way too many people who treat everyone they know kindly and lovingly, yet won't condemn torture because they "don't know what's in [the torturers'] hearts." The same simplistic way of viewing the world that makes them a joy to be around makes it impossible for them to call evil things evil. It's hard when it's tempting to emulate their behavior, but you couldn't disagree more with their reasons for behaving the way they do.leightonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07821884432248870789noreply@blogger.com