Torture - Yes, No, Maybe

I happened upon a blog (Experimental Theology) by Richard Beck, an Associate Professor and experimental psychologist at Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX. The term experimental theology is intriguing so I decided to check on what is being written. It has been on my blog list for a couple of months, but as Dr. Beck was in the midst of another theological discussion I decided to wait until a new topic surfaced. Today was the day and the subject is "Christians and Torture: Part 1, The Pew Report" (link to Beck's blog).

The use of torture is anathema to me. I find it difficult to understand why torture is used, but let me include an excerpt from the Pew research and from Beck's blog. The question asked by the Pew Research Center (link to Pew Report) is:

Do you think the use of torture against suspected terrorists in order to gain important information can often be justified, sometimes be justified, rarely be justified, or never be justified?

The outcome is as follows as shown in Beck's blog:

"49% of the total US population felt that torture can often or sometimes be justified. When this population trend was broken down by religious demographic the following trends emerged. First, 62% White evangelical Protestants said torture can often or sometimes be justified. This is an increase of +13% in pro-torture sentiment for people who ostensibly serve a Lord who said 'Love your enemies'. "

Beck went on to say:

A similar trend emerged when church attendance was examined. Fifty-four percent of people who attend religious services "at least weekly" said that torture is often or sometimes justified. That is a +5% increase over the national average. This difference might not be much but it's downright embarrassing, morally speaking, given that only 42% of people who "seldom or never" attend religious worship services saw torture as often or sometimes justified. That is, religious people were +12% more in favor of torture than the irreligious. Translated into my religious tradition, this means Christians were more in favor of torture than non-Christians.

I find this very disturbing. Perhaps this is why I have tended to steer away from organized religion except for individual churches that are more liberal and have tolerance of differences in people. This report by the Pew Center reinforces what I have long suspected.

It will be interesting to see what these students at Abilene Christian decide when they answer Dr. Beck's question:

"...what's going on here? Is this all just about politics? Or is there something about religious people, Christians in particular, that make them pro-torture?"

It's darn scary!

Quote of the Day. "Quitting: the new American value."

At Governor Sarah Palin's retirement party/picnic today came the quote of the day from Larry Landry, 51, of Fairbanks who held up a red, white and blue sign that read,

"Quitting: the new American value."

The other side read: "Thanks for the laughs."
Read: "Palin Steps Down" at the Washington Post.

Quotes...

Classy is as classy does...

What is Angie Harmon's problem?

I am a Democrat and have no idea where she came up with the idea that disagreeing with our new president makes one a racist! I haven't yet disagreed with him, but if I do it would never enter my mind that it's because I'm a racist nor would I be referred to as a racist. I can't imagine who would give her the idea that disagreeing with any African-American would make her a racist... Now I might think she's moronic , but disagreeing does not constitute one being a racist!

Part One of Interview:

Angie Harmon is not afraid to come out and say she doesn’t like how President Obama is handling the job — but she’s sick of having to defend herself from being deemed a racist.

"Here's my problem with this, I'm just going to come out and say it. If I have anything to say against Obama it's not because I'm a racist, it's because I don't like what he's doing as President and anybody should be able to feel that way, but what I find now is that if you say anything against him you're called a racist,"

Part Two of interview:

The interview started with Harmon defending Bristol Palin, and became the larger reasons Harmon loves the Republican Party:

"I think one of the greatest things about the Republican Party is the understanding, we don't point fingers and we have class..."

When I began writing this post I was being terribly sarcastic about the above reference and decided to start over even though it was a funny comment, but not very classy. In the interview Harmon defends Bristol Palin & the situation she is in as a child of 17 which could happen to almost any young girl. Harmon is right in that a child should not be used as the brunt of anyone's sarcasm. Of course it was our President Obama who made sure that the children of Gov. Palin were off-limits in the days leading up to the election. Angie Harmon needs to remember that little fact about President Obama when she's discussing people of a particular party having class... doesn't look like the Republicans have a monopoly on class.

Click the link for the interview in the Huffington Post.

Barack Hussein Obama II - 44th President of the United States of America

Today I awake to a new day filled with excitement. The excitement is spreading outward from Washington, DC to all points in the United States and worldwide. My friend in France (an ex-pat AM) is going to an inaugural party! There will be parties in Australia according to another friend there. From the reading on blog sites one can feel the excitement around the country & world!

It will be interesting to see how many posts from around the world will reflect the excitement that is taking place in our country.

Here's to Change and Hope and just a bit of good luck & lots of work. Thank you Barack Obama for being willing to take on the enormous task of running our country.

Now excuse me... I have a swearing-in to hear, news to follow, and an inaugural party to attend!!!

Patriotic Spirit

I have not written anything today about the upcoming inaugural festivities or about how proud I am that we are about to inaugurate Barack Obama as our 44th president until now. There is no way I can find my own words to express how patriotic I feel and how patriotic most Americans feel at this deeply significant moment in our history.

We have seen the word "Change" over & over and perhaps have wondered how this change will manifest itself. Tonight I saw Maya Angelou speak on BBC World News. One of the things which she said stood out for me and that was that each of us needs to be involved, to participate, to effect change.

Then I happened on the article by Robert Creamer in The Huffington Post (link below) that spoke to me very simply. He states 4 reasons for the significance of this inaugural event:

1. Obama and his call to service -- to commitment -- has touched our most fundamental self interest -- our desire for meaning.
2. Obama -- his campaign and his transition - have been unequivocal in their willingness to hold up and unapologetically celebrate the principles that lie at the heart of traditional progressive American values: unity not division; hope and optimism not fear and cynicism; tolerance not prejudice; that it's the right thing to help your neighbor not just yourself; that we're all in this together -- not all in this alone.
3. The new patriotism results from relief. Americans are relieved that they once again can be proud of the way their government acts in the world.
4. The election of Obama makes us proud of ourselves. We are proud that we have elected the first African American president.

Take a few minutes to connect to the article below. Perhaps it will speak to you as it did to me. This will be a new day of pride for the American people. I know I am going to hold my head and my flag high in honor of all those who have worked throughout the years to make this happen.

Political organizer and strategist

Posted January 19, 2009 | 11:40 AM (EST)
by Robert Creamer

A Surprise for the Right: Obama's Election Has Caused a Patriotic Spirit to Sweep America