Christians, in plurality, tend to fall into the anti-EIT camp and are very skeptical about the program. Dr. David Gushee, a Christian ethicist and historian, wrote an article for Christianity Today entitled, “5 Reasons Torture is always wrong.” In this article, Gushee lays out five reasons why the Bible does not complement torture, specifically EITs. He begins with the argument that “torture violates the dignity of the human being.” Gushee cites Genesis 1:26-28 where all men are “created in the image of God” and when society tortures other human beings, they are hurting the handiwork and prized possession of God. Secondly, Gushee argues that “torture mistreats the vulnerable and violates the demands for justice.” In this argument, Gushee compares
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While Paul does call us to obey our governmental authorities, there are some strict guidelines that Christians should take into account before throwing their blind faith behind an action. While this discussion has primarily been about interrogation, these principles are applicable to any questionable or controversial action of the state. First, how can Christians demonstrate the most love for others and the greatest respect for human dignity in an effort to carry out Jesus’ call for justice of the innocent. Interrogation may just be that tool to demonstrate love for the thousands of neighbors at home. However, the issue that must be addressed when it comes to EITs is whether the same goal can be accomplished in a way that respects human dignity to a greater extent. If the EITs are the only proven way to accomplish the task of protecting thousands of lives, then it is important to ensure that the conduct of these interrogations are as professional as possible. In The Ethics of Interrogation: Professional Responsibility in an Age of Terror, Paul Lauritzen defines professional conduct as “a matter of asking what a virtuous professional would or would not do in a particular situation.” The danger of EITs comes when the administrators deviate from a professional way of conduct as evident in the Abu Ghraib abuses. In March of 2003, seven enlisted servicemen faced …show more content…
As mentioned above, Romans 13 calls for Christians to obey governmental authorities and governmental structures while not stating that one must agree and blindly follow the policies of the state; Paul’s life consists of many imprisonments, and while he did not completely agree with the state, he still respected its authority and structure by submitting to punishment. The other school of thought regarding interrogation holds that Christians must respect human dignity and practice Jesus’ way of life by not committing the violent actions in the EIT program. While there is truth to both of those perspectives, it is important to remember how the Old Testament demonstrates many instances where God used morally questionable acts to transform them for the good of his plan. However, it is important for Christians to determine what is too far and what actions further the work of the devil instead of Kingdom of God. The EITs have the capacity to protect the innocent on a large scale; according to a 2015 CRS Report, the conclusion was made that the EITs “enabled the identification and capture of other terrorists; (2) warned of terrorist plots planned for the
While Paul does call us to obey our governmental authorities, there are some strict guidelines that Christians should take into account before throwing their blind faith behind an action. While this discussion has primarily been about interrogation, these principles are applicable to any questionable or controversial action of the state. First, how can Christians demonstrate the most love for others and the greatest respect for human dignity in an effort to carry out Jesus’ call for justice of the innocent. Interrogation may just be that tool to demonstrate love for the thousands of neighbors at home. However, the issue that must be addressed when it comes to EITs is whether the same goal can be accomplished in a way that respects human dignity to a greater extent. If the EITs are the only proven way to accomplish the task of protecting thousands of lives, then it is important to ensure that the conduct of these interrogations are as professional as possible. In The Ethics of Interrogation: Professional Responsibility in an Age of Terror, Paul Lauritzen defines professional conduct as “a matter of asking what a virtuous professional would or would not do in a particular situation.” The danger of EITs comes when the administrators deviate from a professional way of conduct as evident in the Abu Ghraib abuses. In March of 2003, seven enlisted servicemen faced …show more content…
As mentioned above, Romans 13 calls for Christians to obey governmental authorities and governmental structures while not stating that one must agree and blindly follow the policies of the state; Paul’s life consists of many imprisonments, and while he did not completely agree with the state, he still respected its authority and structure by submitting to punishment. The other school of thought regarding interrogation holds that Christians must respect human dignity and practice Jesus’ way of life by not committing the violent actions in the EIT program. While there is truth to both of those perspectives, it is important to remember how the Old Testament demonstrates many instances where God used morally questionable acts to transform them for the good of his plan. However, it is important for Christians to determine what is too far and what actions further the work of the devil instead of Kingdom of God. The EITs have the capacity to protect the innocent on a large scale; according to a 2015 CRS Report, the conclusion was made that the EITs “enabled the identification and capture of other terrorists; (2) warned of terrorist plots planned for the