Study Materials for Faith Groups
Audio Video
Print Materials

These materials could be used in an ongoing education class, a special event for your congregation or an interfaith study with people from your congregation and other faiths.

Study Materials

Featured Resources

• “Ending U.S.-sponsored Torture Forever: A Study for People of Faith,” a new NRCAT adult study resource that includes a 20-minute DVD and accompanying discussion guides that can be used in one or two sessions.
• The video trailer of the DVD can be viewed here. The 20-minute video can be viewed here.
• Six discussion guides have been developed for these specific faith groups: Catholic, evangelical Christian, Jewish, mainline Protestant, Muslim, and Unitarian Universalist.
• Complete information about the video, the discussion guides, and our campaign to have 300 congregations show the video before April 1, 2010 is available here.
• Why congregations and other organizations must continue their anti-torture work in 2010.
• www.interrogationscentral.com is a website created by Matthew Alexander (former interrogator and author of How to Break a Terrorist) that serves as a central knowledge bank for all things related to interrogations.The art of interrogations is more than a skill; it is a discipline with deep historical roots and remarkable achievements. Trained, certified, and professional interrogators are dedicated to improving their craft, advancing the use of non-coercive interrogation techniques, and value continued learning and research.
  

Christian Resources

• "The Church Responds to Torture," a comprehensive resource from No2Torture and the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program, PC(USA), that includes General Assembly statements, a letter to President Obama from Gradye Parsons, and action resources.
• "Torture is a Moral Issue: A Catholic Study Guide," published by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and written by David Gibson who served on the Catholic News Service Editorial staff for more than 37 years and was the editor of Origins, CNS Documentary Service, from its inception until April 2007.
• In the Footsteps of the Crucified: Torture is Never Justified, is an 8-session, intensive program for group study and dialogue published by JustFaith for use in Catholic parishes. Click here to download the flyer and registration.
  
• "Way of Torture, Way of the Cross: A Bible Study for Lent and Other Occasions," a bible study prepared by NRCAT.
• "To Be Instruments of God’s Peace, Love and Justice in a Broken and Shattered World: Resources for Responding to Torture" from the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program.
• "Out of Horror, Hope: A Biblically Based Study of Torture's Ravages and Potential Responses in the Reformed Tradition," available as a single two-hour study or five one-hour studies prepared by No2Torture.
• "Teaching About Torture," a resource from the Quaker Initiative to End Torture, written by Peggy Brick.
• Additional resources from No2Torture and the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program, PC(USA).

Jewish Resources

• Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA): "Op-Ed: Stopping torture needs unswerving commitment," by David Saperstein, June 16, 2010.
  
• Jewish Values and Torture, articles to study by former Rabbis for Human Rights-North America Education Director Rabbi Melissa Weintraub.
• Teaching Children About Human Rights, a curriculum from the Jewish Campaign Against Torture.
• For more resources, visit the Rabbis for Human Rights-North America website

Muslim Resources

• "Torture Is Not An American Value," from the Islamic Society of North America.
  

Audio Video

Recommended Films

• Taxi to the Dark Side, directed by Alex Gibney
• Order a DVD from NRCAT's online store
• Download NRCAT's discussion guide
• Ghosts of Abu Ghraib, directed by Rory Kennedy
• Download NRCAT’s Facilitator's Guide for faith-based screenings
• Torturing Democracy, produced by Sherry Jones
• Order a DVD
  
• Primetime Torture from Human Rights First
• Order a DVD

Other suggested films and reviews

• Rendition – Concerning extraordinary rendition practices by U.S. government
• Shaolin Tiger
• Entertainment Weekly
• The Battle of Algiers – Vividly portrays use of torture
• The Guardian
• Coosa Creek
• Death and the Maiden – Portrays psychological effects of torture
• Salon.com
• All-Reviews
• Extraordinary Rendition – Concerning rendition practices by UK government; made with help from Amnesty International
• Eye for Film
• Variety
• Gitmo: the New Rules of War – Swedish documentary about Guantanamo Bay
• Top Documentary Films
• Variety
• The Official Story – Argentine film about effects of torture
• Sun Times
• World Festival of Foreign Films
• The Road to Guantánamo – British docudrama depicting experiences of three detainees at Guantanamo, including torture
• BBC
• Amnesty International
• Study guide to go along with film
• Standard Operating Procedure – concerning torture at Abu Ghraib
• Variety
• A.V. Club
• Syriana – Concerning U.S. affairs in the Middle East in relation to oil; depicts scenes of torture
• The History Place
• The Boston Globe
• The Warning – Discusses Bush-era abuses
• The Raw Story
• Fire Dog Lake

More viewing resources

• "Torture on Trial" is a Link TV original production that investigates the history of interrogations in the "War on Terrorism", and the growing movement calling for accountability for those who authorized and participated in torture.  Featured guests include George Hunsinger, NRCAT’s Founder.
• "Next Steps in Ending U.S.-sponsored Torture," 90-minute webcast of NRCAT workshop at Ecumenical Advocacy Days (3/14/09), featuring George Hunsinger, legal scholar Scott Horton and former military interrogator Matthew Alexander.
• "Torture, Conscience and the Catholic Moral Tradition," webcast of conference at Catholic University, March 19, 2009.
• "Torture is a Moral Issue," a presentation by George Hunsinger at All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena, CA.
• "The Torture Question," by Frontline, PBS, 2005.
• No2Torture's 2007 LA Gathering, featuring keynote address by Richard Mouw, President of Fuller Seminary - order a free DVD
• Torture is a Moral Issue, PowerPoint Presentation compiled by Jean Athey, WRRCAT.

Audio resources

• "The Question of Torture," a series featured on National Public Radio in June, 2006