On torture in a Christian country

12 December 2014 - 15:41 By Bruce Gorton
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A lot of people have reacted with shock at the recent revelations about America's use of torture – asking whether it is befitting a Christian nation.

The thing of it is, I figure it kind of fits depending on your idea of the Christian God and the concept of hell.

Now note before you whinge about #notallchristians – this isn't about all Christians, this is about a particular concept of God held by some Christians.

And that concept is the God you should fear come judgement day – the God who is quite happy to cast you into hell where you can suffer in torment for all eternity.

Now all Christians pretty much agree that God is supposed to be a being of perfect good – so what does it mean if that God is a torturer? Suddenly torture isn't a bad thing.

And thus you have a Christian nation that supports “enhanced interrogation techniques”.

In 2009 Pew ran a survey that found that people who attended church regularly and found that 52% said torture was often or sometimes justifiable. For people who didn't attend church that dropped to 42%.

Amongst those who proclaimed no particular belief (a conglomeration of atheists, agnostics and people who just weren't part of any organised religion) only 40% said it was often or sometimes justifiable.

Now obviously there is a large chunk of the non-religious population that supports “enhanced interrogation”, there are proponents like Sam Harris from the godless community.

But not at the same rate as the dominant religion in the USA.

And I suspect a big chunk of that is that there is that fire-and-brimstone brand of Christianity still in play in America.

Again that is not all Christians, if you feel what I have written doesn't describe your beliefs well that's probably because it doesn't, but it is a significant enough chunk to skew the figures on torture.

To the point that in real terms it is not out of character for a nation of people who strongly proclaim themselves Christians, and their nation to be a Christian nation, to be fine with torture. 

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