And Jesus wept....
The more often Americans go to church, the more likely they are to support the torture of suspected terrorists....
(Later: I think it's important to note that it is "church attendance," not beliefs, that links.)
posted by mikevotes at
10:08 PM
12 Comments:
"White evangelical Protestants were the religious group most likely to say torture is often or sometimes justified — more than 6 in 10 supported it."
That supports what I saw on the ground.
By
Anonymous, at 11:24 PM
these are the same people who look at the classic portrait of Jesus and can't see a long-haired liberal reformer.
By
Anonymous, at 12:07 AM
This makes perfect sense to me. Given what we know about the American religiosity demographic, it's unique American-Nationalist-Christianity and views of exceptional exemption, this makes perfect sense.
By
-epm, at 8:14 AM
I think it's very important to note that this is about church attendance, not christianity or religiousity.
Church attendance is the factor, not personal belief.
I'm not sure if it's a tendency towards trusting authority/structure or an "our team" kinda thing.
By
mikevotes, at 8:50 AM
Disgusting. It is an indictment of church leadership in failing to educate their people about this evil. As an active Catholic, I'm ashamed.
Still, there is a vigorous ongoing debate and I think the torture opponents are gaining ground. See this article and scan through the comments that follow:
http://insidecatholic.com/Joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5888&Itemid=48
By
Patrick, at 11:57 AM
Patrick, I tend to agree that torture is going out.
I think a large part of this number has to do with party affiliation. Evangelicals, very likely Repub voters, are the most likely to support torture.
I see this as a statement of political religion, not of religion. You know?
Kind of a lost their way mixing their religion and politics.
By
mikevotes, at 1:53 PM
Mike, I take your point, but according to Pew numbers, 92% of Americans who identify as having ANY religious affiliation identify as Christian. Make that 94% if you include Mormons as Christian. Therefore, based on American demographics, "church goers" are almost by definition Christian "church goers." Indeed, the survey specifically identifies church going Evangelicals as being the most supportive of torture (60%).
Since the numbers correlate (track proportionally) to attendance, the question remains is it the increase exposure to the churches' messages that make one more accepting of torture, or is it something else...
Of course we don't know what percentage of the religious respondents are regular church goers. If only 30% of those identifying with a certain denomination are frequent attendees, then the 54% number isn't as alarming in absolute numbers.
Nonetheless, one assumes that more regular church goers or subjected to more regular instruction in the teaching of a given faith. And given the American demographic, that message is a "Christian" message. And since those more frequently exposed to this message are also (much?) more likely to support torture, I think it's fair to say that the message they're receiving is either supporting the notion of "a just torture" or, at the very least, not dissuading them from the view of a "just" torture.
Now, with that said, I'm laying my cynical contempt at the feet of those religious institutions and their clergy, and not at the feet of Christ or his gospel.
(And I know the Catholic church advocates against torture... indeed all violence.)
By
-epm, at 2:12 PM
Maybe I wasn't clear. What I'm saying is that Christianity is not what showed the linkage in the poll.
Yes, most churchgoers are Christian, but not all Christians are churchgoers.
I'm trying to define that line because it's my guess that it has more to do with politics than religion.
My argument would be that a disproporionately large percentage of "churchgoers" self identify with Republican. I would argue that the broader politics of their social affiliations probably has more bearing than any part of their Christian message.
They identify with Republican, therefore they are pro-torture, not they are pro-torture because of something directly preached, or even an intended message.
The conflation of the identities and social circles with politics and religion and the structures of church has led to this reinforced view of the world.
It's like the old joke, "I didn't know Jesus was for lower capital gains taxes on the wealthy."
That's an item passed through their cultural associations, not something that's preached.
I'd bet you could see similar polling showing a tax policy link to church going.
My main point here was twofold. 1) Not to trash Christianity over this.
2) To point out just how far these people have been led astray from what I believe the message to be.
By
mikevotes, at 4:03 PM
Did you see "Passion of the Christ?" The whole movie was about torture. I actually laughed out loud at one point, it was so overdone, but I must admit I was the only one who did.
By
gary, at 1:55 PM
I didn't even bother seeing it. I just couldn't validate the Evangelical righteous wave that was accompanying the blood pic.
By
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