The Paper Trail

John Gruber Leads The Way

You wrote:

Church-Goers More Likely to Support Torture

CNN:

The more often Americans go to church, the more likely they are to support the torture of suspected terrorists, according to a new survey.

Evangelical Christians lead the way.

John, this is the definition of irresponsible, sloppy writing. Even the laziest attempt at an accurate perspective on this story would have added “…in supporting torture under limited circumstances, with the non-religious close behind.”

The original article was skewed enough, but it at least gave you enough information to see that 75% of non-religious people in the survey agreed that torture is sometimes justified, compared with 90% of evangelicals.

Your treatment of the story, however, is atrocious. Here is some perspective for you: Evangelical Christians do not give blanket support for torture. You will not find a single solitary evangelical Christian who supports what was done at Abu Ghraib (though you would invite your reader to believe that they all supported it wholeheartedly).

Evangelical Christians believe that torture is justified in time-sensitive circumstances when the lives of thousands of people are at stake. It boils down to this: if you had a man who refused to tell you how his friends would be killing your wife and children in the next day, I doubt you would peacefully resign yourself to his silence. Many of us do personally believe that inflicting pain and fear would be morally justified under such circumstances, and this belief is an extension of our care for those who ought to be under our protection, not of a love of violence or cruelty. It may not be a position you agree with, but you must allow it is not unreasonable, nor does it betray a sweeping inhumanity among evangelical Christians as you would invite your reader to believe.

I’m not interested in persuading you that your position on the issue is wrong; just that your treatment of it was sloppy at best and poisonous at worst. You’re normally a detailed and thoughtful person. If you can give that kind of care to your opinions when talking about pixels and phones, surely you can make it worth your while to make at least a show of effort when talking about more important things.

Minnesota Blankety Blanks

Love this mini-series on Twitter today:

“Minnesota Twins. Least intimidating team nickname ever. Siamese Twins, maybe. Evil Twins, better. Hitler Twins, much better.”
— @badbanana

“Look at that clean cut gentleman from Minnesota. What, he has a brother that looks just like him? «shudder»”
— @badbanana

“You wouldn’t mess with the Minnesota Hitler Twins. That’s all I’m saying.”
— @badbanana

Here are some other ideas , none too flattering, that I kept in a notebook from a 2007 camping trip (we laughed so hard I couldn’t let them be forgotten):

• the Minnesota Chin-knickers
• the Minnesota Proboscis
• the Minnesota Razor Burns
• the Minnesota Stiffs
• the Minnesota Frozen Steel Pole Lickers
• the Minnesota Frozen Corpses
• the Minnesota Potholes
• the Minnesota Taliban
• the Minnesota Mexicans
• the Minnesota Suckers
• the Minnesota Hibernators (motto: “But we still have a pulse”)
• the Minnesota Shovel Busters
• the Minnesota Numb Butts
• the Minnesota Fine Cheese Haters
• the Minnesota Cheapskates
• the Minnesota Dock Spiders
• the Minnesota Bus Accidents
• the Minnesota Fish Bellies
• the Minnesota Bad Dreams
• the Minnesota Hat Hairs
• the Minnesota Hangnails
• the Minnesota Deer Ticks

Gracious Uncertainty

Our natural inclination is to be so precise — trying always to forecast accurately what will happen next — that we look upon uncertainty as a bad thing. We think that we must reach some predetermined goal, but that is not the nature of the spiritual life. The nature of the spiritual life is that we are certain in our uncertainty. Consequently, we do not put down roots. Our common sense says, “Well, what if I were in that circumstance?” We cannot presume to see ourselves in any circumstance in which we have never been.

Certainty is the mark of the commonsense life — gracious uncertainty is the mark of the spiritual life. To be certain of God means that we are uncertain in all our ways, not knowing what tomorrow may bring. This is generally expressed with a sigh of sadness, but it should be an expression of breathless expectation. We are uncertain of the next step, but we are certain of God. As soon as we abandon ourselves to God and do the task He has placed closest to us, He begins to fill our lives with surprises. When we become simply a promoter or a defender of a particular belief, something within us dies. That is not believing God — it is only believing our belief about Him. Jesus said, “…unless you…become as little children…”. The spiritual life is the life of a child. We are not uncertain of God, just uncertain of what He is going to do next. If our certainty is only in our beliefs, we develop a sense of self-righteousness, become overly critical, and are limited by the view that our beliefs are complete and settled. But when we have the right relationship with God, life is full of spontaneous, joyful uncertainty and expectancy. Jesus said, “…believe also in Me”, not, “Believe certain things about Me”. Leave everything to Him and it will be gloriously and graciously uncertain how He will come in — but you can be certain that He will come. Remain faithful to Him.

— Oswald Chambers