Who Would Jesus Torture?

From: Sojourners SojoMail@sojo.net
Date: Nov 9, 2005
Subject: Who Would Jesus Torture? - SojoMail 11.09.05

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++++++++++++++++ 09-November-2005 ++++++++++++++++
++++++++++++ Who Would Jesus Torture? ++++++++++++

Quote of the Week
*From a soldier to a senator

Batteries Not Included
*David Batstone: Who would Jesus torture?

Theologically Connect
*Wal-Mart and frugality's folly

By the Numbers
*Survey says...

Campus Lines
*Anticipating peace, from Exodus to Armistice Day

Religion and Politics
*IRS targets church for anti-war sermon

Signs of the Times
*Bibles banned behind bars?

Sojourners in the News
*This week's media roundup

Boomerang
*Readers write

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Quote of the Week
++++++++++++++++++++++++

"While I served in the Global War on Terror, the actions and
statements of my leadership led me to believe that United States
policy did not require application of the Geneva Conventions in
Afghanistan or Iraq.... Despite my efforts, I have been unable
to get clear, consistent answers from my leadership about what
constitutes lawful and humane treatment of detainees. I am
certain that this confusion contributed to a wide range of
abuses including death threats, beatings, broken bones, murder,
exposure to elements, extreme forced physical exertion,
hostage-taking, stripping, sleep deprivation, and degrading
treatment. I and troops under my command witnessed some of these
abuses in both Afghanistan and Iraq."

- Captain Ian Fishback of the 82nd Airborne Division in a letter
to Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), as printed in The Washington
Post.

+ Read the full text: http://go.sojo.net/ct/pdAzAh41wm4A/

--------------------------------------------------

Batteries Not Included
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Who would Jesus torture?

by David Batstone

Christians of strong religious faith and sound moral conscience
often end up in disagreement. Human affairs are a messy
business, unfortunately, and even at the best of times we only
see through a glass, darkly.

It is hard for that reason to call Christians to a universal
standard of behavior. At this moment, however, we cannot afford
to dilute the message of Jesus into meaningless ambiguity. There
are certain acts that a follower of Jesus simply cannot accept.
Here is one: A Christian cannot justify the torture of a human
being.

The practice of torture by American soldiers is a hot topic at
the Pentagon, in the Congress, and in the White House at the
moment. The U.S. Senate already has passed 90-9 a bill that
prohibits "cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment" of prisoners
in U.S. custody. The lead advocate of the bill, Sen. John McCain
(R-Ariz.), was tortured by his captors during the Vietnam War.
According to The New York Times, the Pentagon adopted a policy
last Thursday to rein in interrogation techniques. The new
policy uses much of the same language as the McCain amendment -
drawn in large part from the Geneva Convention - to adopt
standards for handling terror suspects.

Remarkably, the White House opposes the Pentagon initiative,
and threatens to veto any legislation to which the McCain bill
gets attached. Vice President Dick Cheney has urged Republican
senators to allow CIA counterterrorism operations
internationally to be exempt from the ban on mistreatment of
prisoners, major newspapers reported.

On Nov. 3, Lawrence Wilkerson, former chief of staff for
then-Secretary of State Colin Powell, said during an interview
on NPR's "Morning Edition" that memos from Cheney's office
practically encouraged abuse of Iraqi prisoners. Though in
"carefully couched terms" that would allow for deniability, the
message from Cheney's office conveyed the sentiment that
interrogations of Iraqi prisoners were not providing the needed
intelligence. Wilkerson said soldiers in the field would have
concluded that to garner better intelligence they could resort
to interrogation techniques that "were not in accordance with
the spirit of the Geneva Conventions and the law of war."

Republican senators are among the strongest voices in the
growing chorus of criticism. Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) said, "I
think the administration is making a terrible mistake in
opposing John McCain's amendment on detainees and torture." And
Sen. John Warner (R-Va.), chairman of the Senate Armed Services
Committee and co-sponsor of McCain's measure, agreed: "I firmly
believe that it's in the best interest of the Department of
Defense, the men and women of the United States military that
this manual be their guide."

When the existence of secret CIA detention centers became public
this week, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) and
Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) called for investigations -
not about whether they violate laws governing human rights - but
about how the information was leaked. But members of their own
party are keeping the focus where it belongs. The Washington
Post quoted Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.) as saying, "Talk
about not seeing the forest for the trees. The real story is
those jails."

Admittedly, Christians of good faith part paths when political
conflict leads us to consider what constitutes a just and
righteous war - or if any war can be just. Though we may not
consent on the means, we do consent on the need to confront the
spread of evil in the world. Yet we can all affirm scripture
when it says, "Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take
thought for what is noble in the sight of all.... Do not be
overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:17,
21). When we confront evil with its own means, those means mark
our own character.

In that regard, the practice of torture so fully embraces evil
it dehumanizes both the torturer and its victim. No just cause
can be won if it relies on torture to succeed. Democracy and
freedom cannot result from a war fueled by torture, which is why
so many Americans were shocked and angered by the disturbing
incidents that took place at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq.

All the more so, Christians must oppose torture under any
circumstances. Consider this: Who would Jesus torture? I cannot
imagine Jesus finding a single "exemption" that would justify
such an abuse of any individual made in God's image.

Though I bristle whenever I hear someone refer to the United
States as a Christian nation - it is such a loaded phrase - many
in the Muslim world see us as such. How tragic it would be for
Muslims to identify the message and mission of Jesus with
torture and terror. We must not allow that to happen.

Action Alert: "Do not repay evil for evil...." (1 Peter 3:9).

Despite strong bipartisan support in the Senate, Republican
leaders in the House - including Speaker Hastert - are using a
procedural loophole to block an up or down House vote on Sen.
McCain's anti-torture measure.

+ Click here to ask Speaker Hastert and your representative to
stand up against torture: http://go.sojo.net/campaign/wwjt/wwuk8g32h5t853j?

+ Tell a friend about this issue of SojoMail at: http://go.sojo.net/sojourners/join-forward.html?domain=sojourners&r=11AzAh41FRBB&

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Theologically Connect
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Wal-Mart and frugality's folly

by C. Melissa Snarr

Frugality is not a spiritual discipline. Yet Americans regularly
follow weekend trips to places of worship with drives to giant
discount stores. Jewish, Christian, and Muslim traditions unite
in challenging those of us who would save a buck at the cost of
another's well-being. Unfortunately, in our current culture,
getting a "deal" has largely displaced righteous dealings as our
first consideration in the marketplace.

Within the Christian tradition, the term frugal is wholly absent
from the biblical text and is not among the fruits of the spirit
in Galatians 5:22-23. Generosity is instead the prized theme in
stories of faith. God enables human generosity by promising a
care for believers and creation that allows us to put our store
in heaven, not in barns or walk-in closets here on earth. The
images are numerous: banquet tables set for the homeless, fishes
and loaves multiplied, water turned into wine, and manna falling
from heaven. Throughout scripture, generosity is structured by
obligations to the most vulnerable. Rulers, merchants, and
nations are judged by how they treat the poor, widowed, and
orphaned. Faithful generosity follows God's preference for those
normally forgotten by society.

+ Read the full article: http://go.sojo.net/ct/i1AzAh41wXv0/

+ Learn more about Wal-Mart Watch's "Higher Expectations Week,"
Nov. 13-19: http://go.sojo.net/ct/u7AzAh41wXvx/

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By the Numbers
+++++++++++++++++++++
Survey says...

A new Washington Post-ABC News poll shows that a majority of
Americans have serious doubts about President Bush's leadership
and integrity, and the war in Iraq.

* 60% disapprove of the way Bush is handling his job as
president.
* 58% believe Bush is not "honest and trustworthy."
* 55% believe the Bush administration "intentionally misled
the American public" about Iraq.
* 64% disapprove of the way Bush is handling the situation
in Iraq.
* 60% think that given the costs, the Iraq war was not worth
fighting.
* 52% believe that the Iraq war has not "contributed to the
long-term security" of the U.S.

+ See the entire poll: http://go.sojo.net/ct/p7AzAh41wm4M/

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Campus Lines
+++++++++++++++++++
Anticipating peace, from Exodus to Armistice Day

by Jake Erickson

The horrible tragedy of war has been made ever more apparent
these past weeks with the American death toll in the Iraq war
now surpassing 2,000, and the death toll of Iraqi citizens in
the tens of thousands. Many people feel mired down by the
persisting conflict in Iraq, burdened with the realization that
the war probably won't be finished soon. And the Bush
administration's stance that we must continue to "hold out" in
Iraq does not bring much comfort or hope for those of us who see
peace as an obligation of our Christian faith.

As people of faith, however, we are called in hopeful worship to
remember times of peace - even in the midst of violent conflict.
We are called to remember times when God has miraculously
delivered humanity out of evil. The story of Exodus 13:3-10
calls us to this remembrance. Even before they are delivered out
of Egypt, Moses says to the people that they will celebrate the
festival of the unleavened bread. Moses gives the people this
subtle instruction about that celebration in verse 8: "You shall
tell your child on that day, 'It is because of what the Lord did
for me when I came out of Egypt.'" The Israelites were
instructed to remember their deliverance into peace. Present-day
people of faith are to do likewise.

+ Read the full article: http://go.sojo.net/ct/idAzAh41wXvp/

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Religion and Politics
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
IRS targets church for anti-war sermon

All Saints Episcopal Church of Pasadena, California, has had its
tax-exempt status challenged over anti-war statements made by
its pastor during last year's election. According to the Los
Angeles Times, Rev. George F. Regas told his congregation that
"good people of profound faith" could vote for either candidate,
but then went on to say of George W. Bush, "Mr. President, your
doctrine of preemptive war is a failed doctrine. Forciby
changing the regime of an enemy that posed no imminent threat
has led to disaster."
As an added twist, reports the Times, the IRS has offered to
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quotes the church's tax attorney - a former head of the IRS
tax-exempt section - as saying, "They said if there was a
confession of wrongdoing, they would not proceed to the exam
stage. They would be willing not to revoke tax-exempt status if
the church admitted intervening in an election."

+ Read the full Los Angeles Times article:
http://go.sojo.net/ct/mpAzAh41wXvf/

Read more:

Conservatives Also Irked by IRS Probe of Churches:
http://go.sojo.net/ct/EdAzAh41wXv5/ National Council of
Churches and the National Association of Evangelicals find
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The won't-be-bullied pulpit:
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Signs of the Times
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
Bibles banned behind bars?

During last year's election campaign, the Republican National
Committee sent direct mail to voters in Arkansas and West
Virginia threatening that liberals would ban the Bible:
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Human rights lawyer G.T. Hunt:
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shrink-wrap packaging - to a client being detained at
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Hunt writes, "Now they won't let my guy at Guantanamo have a
Bible. This is true. He asked for one, I sent one down, and a
Staff Judge Advocate went out of his way to dress me down for
doing so, and told me definitely that the prisoner could not
have a Bible. 'We're trying to run a prison here,' he said, or
words to that effect.... Where's Chuck Colson when you need
him?"

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Sojourners in the News
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Top stories:
Bush administration's moral compass is lost:
http://go.sojo.net/ct/91AzAh41wXvG/
Chicago Sun-Times
Evangelical Christian theologian and leader Jim Wallis, founder
of Sojourners, a national network of "progressive Christian"
peace and justice activists, led an ecumenical gathering of
religious leaders in a protest at the Capitol building Thursday,
calling the proposed cuts "a moral travesty."
Dem Mantra Should Be Security, Truth, Kids:
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The Capitol Times (Madison)
Jim Wallis, author of a brilliant book, God's Politics, urges us
to apply the best wisdom of both our prophetic and democratic
visions....
Wallis also suggests that when we find the answers to the "God
question" intolerable and we engage in protest, the aim should
be to illuminate a society for its need to change.
More Sojourners in the news:
A man and his myths: http://go.sojo.net/ct/9pAzAh41wXvJ/
Newsweek

Backward, Christian soldiers:
http://go.sojo.net/ct/o7AzAh41wXvZ/ The Wall Street Journal

Religious leaders rally for poor as Senate passes budget cuts
to Medicare: http://go.sojo.net/ct/97AzAh41wXv-/ The Christian
Post

: http://go.sojo.net/ct/9dAzAh41wXvF/ problems?:
http://go.sojo.net/ct/kpAzAh41wXvH/ The O'Reilly Factor
A pastor challenges progressives: Take back the church:
http://go.sojo.net/ct/k7AzAh41wXvT/ BuzzFlash
Words to live by: http://go.sojo.net/ct/odAzAh41wXvK/ Science
and Spirit

Michael Lerner and Jim Wallis in Discussion:
http://go.sojo.net/ct/o1AzAh41wXvD/ Tikkun
The Religious Politics of Jim Wallis:
http://go.sojo.net/ct/kdAzAh41wXvY/ The American Spectator

Senate panel retains subsidies for food for the needy:
http://go.sojo.net/ct/k1AzAh41wXvR/ American Baptist Press

Just how monolithic are American Evangelicals:
http://go.sojo.net/ct/i7AzAh41wXvP/ Nieman Watchdog

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Boomerang
++++++++++++++++
Readers write

Christina Stone writes from Houston, Texas:

Why can't Sojourners be less partisan? In many of his columns,
Jim Wallis is thoughtful and reasonable. In other columns (like
"Give 'em Hell, Harry":
http://go.sojo.net/ct/UdAzAh41wXv6//index.cfm?action=sojomail.display&issue=051102#3
) he is merely on a partisan rant.

I am conservative, but I like to read the liberal vew of current
events, especially faith-based views. However, Sojourners tends
to buy into the Democratic Party line and treat conservatives
and Republicans as though they have horns and do not act out of
honest convictions and good-faith beliefs. I and many of my
conservative friends assume that most liberals do think and act
in good faith. I hope that in the future you will avoid
publishing shrill, over-the-top, openly partisan articles.

----------

Jillian Hotz writes from Wayne, Pennsylvania:

I just wanted to write a quick note to say thank you for the
work you do. Getting involved with politics has always seemed
overwhelming to me. Seeing the important items in the big
picture and getting accuate facts has seemed almost impossible,
though, as a Christian, I know it's a necessity. Groups like
these help ordinary people like me get aware and get involved. I
was a member of True Majority for a while, but their one-sided
approach to party politics was a big turn-off, as I am neither a
Republican nor a Democrat. Thank you for giving me a way to get
involved.

----------

Philip Hannam writes from Minneapolis, Minneapolis:

I deeply respect and regard the integrity I have observed in
Sojourners and your life and ministry. I also want you to know I
have trouble receiving much of your message because it often
feels so entangled with the "Washington
culture/adversity/fighting." I see no more political courage in
the closed Senate session than in the Democrats' first stance on
Iraq, "We basically would support military action but only if
Bush consults with us." It has been constant opposition to
Bush/war - while never advocating coherent policy options
including opposition to war.

----------

Louise Monacelli writes from Berkley, Michigan:

Thank you so much for publishing this piece <"The real Rosa[br />Parks,":
http://go.sojo.net/ct/UdAzAh41wXv6//index.cfm?action=sojomail.display&issue=051102#7
SojoMail 11/2/2005]. As Detroit is awash today in the aftermath
of the funeral of Rosa Parks, the idealized woman-symbol, I have
held onto this very truth that I came across a few years ago to
counteract all the sickening posturing about what she
symbolizes. I am much more challenged by the real Rosa Parks to
live out of my own truth and refuse to give up what I know to be
right!

----------

Boomerang is an open forum for all kinds of views that do not
necessarily represent those of Sojourners. Want to make your
voice heard? Because of the volume of letters we receive,
concise responses that include a name, hometown, and
state/province/country are the most likely to be published. We
reserve the right to edit for length and clarity. E-mail:
boomerang@sojo.net

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