“The healthy man doesn’t torture others – generally it is the tortured who turn into torturers”. (Carl Jung, quoted in The Guardian).
This is a crucial question of morality. There is no possible doubt in my mind that Epicurus, were he alive today, would abhor torture, and probably did in ancient Athens, too. That torture is contrary to christian and moslem teachings almost goes without saying. That it offends against all known moral creeds also goes without saying, whether you are religious or an atheist. It is extraordinary that people who claim to be born-again christians can justify this uncivilized stuff. It appears that atheists and agnostics are morally more healthy than those who flaunt their religiosity. May their god help them in the alleged hereafter.
There are many points of difference between my personal outlook and theirs, but at least I thought we had abhorrence of torture in common. Apparently not. It merely shows the girlie hysteria and lack of moral grounding of those who advocate it.
On this matter one cannot stay tolerant.
I very strongly maintain that 99.9% of born again Christians around the world do NOT justify torture. “Love your enemies,; do good to them that despitefully use you” we are told. (followed by the story of the good samaritan). As a follower of the one who told me to do this extremely hard thing, I and 99.9.% of my fellow followers, at the very least, would not dream of doing the absolute opposite. I can only suggest that the strident voices of some who call themselves born again are wolves in sheep’s clothing.
(P.S. A truly born again believer never claims to be morally or ethically superior to anyone else. That is not the point at all)
Apart from his agnosticism which I respect, I agree with most of Epicurus’ philosophy and deem him to be ahead of his time.