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Christianity Today, May, 2007 |

Go Figure

Opinion polls on torture, moral behavior, and other recent statistics.

Compiled by Ted Olsen | posted 4/18/2007 08:53AM

28%

American evangelicals who say torture is never justified.

25%

Secular Americans who agree.

26%

American Catholics who agree.

29%

All Americans who agree.

92%

Evangelicals who believe that not reporting all ...

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H. D. Schmidt

Posted: April 20, 2007 4:17 AM

However, it is my firm conclusion that this nation called into existance by God Himself, its Federal Government has completely gone off the track laid down by the Founding Fathers ever so slowly but surely. Just one quote from George Washington to prove my point: "Overgrown military establishments are under any form of government inauspicious to liberty and are to be regarded as particularly hostile to Republican liberty". Dwigh D. Eisenhower repeated basically the same in his farewell address. He also said these: "Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger, from those who are cold and not clothed". A report has stated that 18000+ children die daily of hunger! Yet, America sends bullets rather than food! Will someone compare 400+ billions the USA spends yearly on war machinery, right? Is there a figure available as to how much America sends to feed the hungry and clothing etc., etc., etc.?

Connie

Posted: April 19, 2007 9:31 PM

Unfortunately, I'm not surprised by these numbers at all, except for the torture one. Did you know that one of the reasons the Founding Fathers of America included the 5th Amendment (the right to not incriminate oneself) was to discourage using torture as a means of exacting a confession? A man will confess to anything under enough pain, say what you will. Torture is un-Constitutional on a national level, and un-Godly on a bigger scale. As to the others, I agree w/ the commenter before me: exceptions are too often made for sin based on how bad we want to do them. Hopefully, the torture ration is not evidence of how many Christians want to torture people.

Derek

Posted: April 19, 2007 10:23 AM

I'm shocked that lag behind the general population when it comes to the use of torture. It'd be interesting to hear about the roots of this attitude/belief. I'd guess that its based on a desire for justice and safety. Yet, how does this reconcile against a) God is the One who ultimately administers justice and b) there are no guarantees for safety and comfort in this life. What a sad disconnect...

Dakotahgeo

Posted: April 18, 2007 6:15 PM

I want to thank the above people for posting their views. You see, I am a Christian pastor who is really quite astonished at, and ashamed of just one fact that we have put our theological titles and denominational names on the Throne of God and written the poor, needy, and disillusioned children of God under the foot of the right-wing Evangelicals' feet! Tradition and heritage have given us a false sense of accomplishment and hope has disappeared. I always attempt to let people know that I am, FIRST, a Christian...and then I struggle with whether or not I should even tell them what denomination I am with...because they have ALL become quite...demented! George M Melby, Pastor (Servant of Jesus Christ) PS: And I haven't even begun to list the other unChristian characteristics I see of the "Christian" churches in the evangelical framework.

Matt Stephens

Posted: April 18, 2007 2:58 PM

Wow. Most of the stats are positively unsurprising. What appalls me, however, are the stats regarding extra-marital sex and gambling. I'm nearly speechless. It's amazing how one's "moral values" are tied to his/her sinful tendencies. The greater one's impulse to a particular sin, the more they condone it. How can someone consider themselves Evangelical and blatantly disagree with the explicit teaching of scripture? Can any genuine believer honestly digress with the teachings that adultery (extramarital sexual relations) and greed (the sole impulse for gambling, whether you admit it or not) is sin? I see a lot of grey in the Bible, but not on those issues. Incredible. www.theincarnate.blogspot.com

Jim Allyn

Posted: April 18, 2007 2:41 PM

I have to agree with Karla Elisa that it is appalling that more than 70 percent of a group that calls themselves followers of Jesus Christ could condone torture. It is unfortunate that so many Evangelicals have been seduced into the idolatry of right wing nationalism, militarism, and capitalist greed. While Evangelicals mourn the state of America, and complain about liberals, I find it is the liberals who represent the values of Christ in opposing greed and war, taking care of the poor and needy, and taking care of God's creation. And now we see that liberals are more likely to oppose torturing God's children. While only 28 percent of Evangelicals say torture is never justified, 45 percent of liberal Democrats say torture is never justified. I pray that Evangelicals will open their Bibles and read them, especially the words of Christ, and accept and believe what it says, rather than twisting it to justify their idolatries.

Gregory

Posted: April 18, 2007 2:02 PM

These stats are only mildly interesting by themselves, as they don't tell you about any trends that might be happening or margins of error. Fortunately, the link makes this article worthwhile. I don't like the absoutism of the questions. I would prefer a "X Can be" quesiton, with a scale of how likely "X" is usually of less usually wrong. Using the word "homosexual" might also be morally questionable in itself...as it's a rather obsolete dualist Victorianism that should probably be discontinued.

Anonymous

Posted: April 18, 2007 12:18 PM


my pain is to see how much evangelical have strayed, cultural christianity is devoid of power of the cross. we have come to a point there is no difference between the world and biblical christianity, so were is our influence areas once we saw as black and white has become grey, we need to go back to bible based revival or self destruct

Karla Elisa

Posted: April 18, 2007 12:09 PM

How utterly appalling that more than 70% of Christians find torture acceptable. Compare that to the percentages on paying taxes to a government that LIES, MURDERS, BULLIES and is INSANE and you have put together a group of people I want no part of any longer. As a new Christian I am saddened to see inflicting pain on people and ensuring it is funded it the number one priorities of this so called Jesus loving bunch. My faith tells me you people are way off the mark with God, but I am NOT surprised, just disgusted.

Paul Frizane

Posted: April 18, 2007 11:50 AM


What about global warming, income disparity, decline of the American middle class. phoney TV preachers,

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