Chuck Colson (Of Watergate Fame) "Christian" For Torture

[kpete]

Charles W. "Chuck" Colson
The chief counsel for President Richard Nixon from 1969 to 1973 and was one of the Watergate Seven, jailed for Watergate-related charges.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Colson

Founder, Prison Fellowship ministry

Charles W. "Chuck" Colson is founder of Prison Fellowship, a Christian outreach ministry to the prison population of this country, as well as to ex-prisoners and crime victims.

TORTURE: Justified Under Some Circumstances

Centuries of Christian ethical reflection would lead to the answer "no." Inflicting bodily or psychological harm on a helpless captive would be inconsistent with the Christian understanding of human dignity. But as with all moral obligations, there may be circumstances for exception.

It is well understood in Christian tradition that while we are supposed to obey the law, there may be times when there is a higher obligation (see Aquinas, Augustine, and Martin Luther King). To rescue a drowning person, a Christian would be justified in disobeying a "no trespassing" sign.

So it is with torture; if a competent authority honestly believed that this was the only way to get information that might save the lives of thousands, I believe he would be justified. That is not moral relativism. It is making a difficult decision when human life and dignity will be affected either way. The Greeks called it prudence.

http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/charles_w_chuck_colson/2007/11/justified_under_some_circumsta.html

[AX10]

1. Colson is a hypocrit. He was a thief and now he thinks...

that because he read the Bible, he has the right to tell others why their sins are wrong, yet he supports certain sins, such as torturing other human beings.

:puke:

[Gman]

2. Colson is a convict. His opinion is no better than any other convict's opinion

He just runs a more high level con.

[rurallib]

3. Colson always makes me think of Lisa Simpson's line

"religion: the last resort for a scoundrel." Like many others, becoming a Christian in no way should change Colson's behavior.

[muntrv]

4. Waterboard Colson, see if he still feels the same way.

[MisterP]

5. he and Sam Harris can join up to start a World Inter-Belief Council on Nail-Ripping

[AX10]

11. What did Sam Harris do?

[Crunchy Frog]

12. He has advocated torture.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sam-harris/in-defense-of-torture_b_8993.html

[AX10]

14. There can be good Religious people and bad Atheists too.

Sam Harris proves it.
:puke:

[struggle4progress]

6. I always thought the Nixonites were scum-feeding fascist bottomsuckers

[GreatCaesarsGhost]

7. chuck "when you have them by the balls, they're hearts and minds will follow" colson

jailhouse convert.

[Warren DeMontague]

8. He was an asshole before, now he's been born again- as an asshole.

Again.

[FredScuttle]

9. Christians must answer for this pro-torture asshole

what say you, christians? Wanna defend this criminal piece of shit who cloaks his advocacy of torture in christ's teachings?

[gratuitous]

10. What. A. Load. Of. Bullshit.

Colson equates violating a "No Trespassing" sign with torture. I think for anyone with more than three working brain cells, the problem with his logic would be obvious.

[defendandprotect]

13. This is still a very dangerous man, no matter what cloak he is wearing righ tnow ---

[spanone]

15. christian torture.....ah, the crusades come to mind...

[Ganja Ninja]

16. I always thought his "christianity" was fake. n/t