Against Torture: An Evangelical Perspective

Abstract

This essay offers a Christian moral analysis of torture. After defining torture and considering the international and domestic moral and legal strictures against torture, the essay moves on to offer six moral reasons why torture should be forbidden. The essay concludes with a call especially to evangelical Christians in the United States to demand that their government cease and desist from any form of torture.Perhaps the best way to engage a moral issue realistically is first to view it in concrete rather than abstract terms. To that end, consider the following vignettes:

Torture and Just War

“…Torture need not erode the character of the interrogator, but there still remains the worry, expressed by David Gushee, that the systematic use of torture erodes the character of the nation that practices it (2006, 359). The argument is echoed by Perry who adds that any society that practices torture will begin a moral slide until it “cannot distinguish between good and evil” (2005, 36–37).…”

“…Thus he argues that it is better to leave the legal prohibitions in place but with the understanding that they will not be enforced in extreme circumstances (Posner 2004, 296). Similarly, David Gushee argues that, if a ticking bomb situation should arise, it should be handled without legalization and on an individual basis, “knowing fully that he would have to answer for his action before God, law, and neighbor” (2006, 362). Oren Gross has argued that public officials in this position exemplify a “truly exceptional case” in that they may have a moral obligation to disobey the law with “preventive interrogational torture” but still expect legal ramifications for their disobedience (2004, 231–32).…”