Is Christianity a Casualty of War?

[sweetm2475]

by Tony Campolo

Recently, I sat in dismay as I watched a television show that featured a prominent Christian author defending the use of torture in the war against terrorism. I was outraged that this man could try to make a case for followers of Jesus condoning such an immoral practice. I shared my feelings with a group of fellow Evangelicals and was stunned when the consensus that emerged from this group of Christians was in agreement with this author.

One of those in the group was wearing one of those WWJD bracelets that proposes that when facing any decision and in every circumstance, the question should be asked, "What would Jesus do?" He evaded the question as to whether or not Jesus would torture a terrorist.

The question is would Jesus ask, "What doth it profit if you gain information from a tortured terrorist and lose your own soul?"

I came away from that discussion with a sense that many of us Evangelicals have given up our moral compasses and wandered into an ethical wasteland where we are not only losing our souls, but also losing our testimonies as good people. Checking around, I found very little condemnation of America's use of torture from those pundits of Christian Fundamentalism who usually can be counted on to speak out with righteous indignation whenever our government provides even the appearance of evil.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tony-campolo/is-christianity-a-casualt_b_13329.html

[dchill]

1. "very little condemnation" ...

Show me ANY condemnation by the "religious" right. Christianity is a casualty of Conservative Christianity. This so-called "War On Terror" is by and for them.

[alfred e bush]

3. paul/saul

wingnut christians follow the teachings of paul..the saddam of his times...he loved torture

[pretzel4gore]

6. he opposed mindless extremism, alfred....

paul was a sorta chauvanist, but he was fixated on jesus' message that 'love your neighbor as yourself' first and foremost....getting caught up in the minutae of an emerging and evolving new religion, paul had to 'lay down the law' in some cases and considering the restrictions of communication and even language/customs he had to stay true to himself (and paul might be the first human being to baldly admit he got horny too often, he called this the 'thorn in his flesh' etc) the reason i'm responding to your reply is that the pagan monstrosities who use christ to satisfy their demonic lust for pleasure and power, like pat robseveryone, or falwel or even some of the mighty fukkups in the roman catholic church, overlook the absolute devotion to the tenets of christianity which st paul had....paul wasn't a bad man, he was a human being who alot of nasty people have found said things that could be misconstrued if the 'love' basis of all his ideas were just put aside.....you aren't the first person who thought paul was a hardcase doctrinaire thug, but his letter to the romans has inspired people as diverse as augustine, gandhi, malcolm muggeridge, pascal, and soon.....please don't throw the baby out with the bathwater!

[still_one]

2. only if they remain silent

just like any other religion

[shaniqua6392]

4. The supposed "war on terrorism"

is a religious war. The US Christian right against Muslims. The rest of us are stuck in the middle of it. Most wars are religious in nature. I am a Christian. But, it is getting more difficult to admit it thanks to Bushco. I do not want to be associated with them. What they are doing is evil and has nothing to do with God. They have hijacked my God to further their greed. They have killed innocent people to further their desire for power. It has sickened me for over five years now and I wish it would end. I have a hard time even going to my church any more. I just know 99% of them voted for that idiot. I pray that they wake up and realize the truth soon. They all spout off God's name as soon as they are caught. Last week Jack Abramhoff mentioned the almighty in his statement. They all do this as soon as they are indicted. Sickening. All we can do is pray that they are stopped soon. They are going to get us all killed.

[cornermouse]

5. Christianity has become a Casualty of Political Power and

Corruption, in my opinion. The republicans offered them a nice package of power, "faith-based" bribes, and moral corruption. The church's religious leaders then sold it from the pulpit.

[ktowntennesseedem]

7. Well said.

It was wrong from the beginning for the religious right to so closely align itself with the political right. But the power and influence made available by their union has further corrupted both. Republicans look at everything and every issue through the eyes of their religious supporters, and weigh their decisions and votes on how best to appease them, not on what is best for the country. And the religious right, with bellies fat from the benefits of political influence, is now oblivious to the corruption and greed of their governmental associates, and has become completely incapable of being the prophetic voice of morals and ethics it still claims to be.

They will never see it, but the increasingly endangered wall of church/state separation is needed now more than ever. Thomas Jefferson, we could sure use more like you right about now.

[bemildred]

8. Read more about the history of the church, and you won't be so surprised.

Not that I mean to bash all religious persons, but the church has always resorted to expedient violence and approved of it for political ends.

[IndianaGreen]

9. Ahhh, but the history of Christianity is one of torture and mass murder

Despite the efforts of the best of the Christians, they cannot escape the true evil nature of their religion which has little to do with Jesus and much to do with power and greed. In America, as in many other countries, religion is nothing more than a control mechanism to keep the believers in line.

I am surprised that many Christians ignored their own apocalyptic scriptures about the anti-Christ. They specifically state that the anti-Christ would "deceive the very elect." This can only be interpreted as saying that those that believe will be seduced by one that will appear as one of them.