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Food #25: "Resistance to Tyranny is Obedience to God":
Understanding the Four Levels of Torture

"I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." (Matthew 25:40)

"Torture" means any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual is intentionally inflicted by one person on another.

When most people think of torture, they think of the kind that is - unfortunately - still used to intimidate, to interrogate, to extract confessions, or to punish others for crimes committed against people and institutions in power (to learn more about how to stamp out this kind of brutality, click here).

The Four Levels of Torture

Torture is much more widespread and present than is commonly thought. Below are the four levels of torture… the first step in dealing with torture is to recognize what it is. For torture to happen, it requires at least two parties.

The first is the torturer who is the one who is inflicting the pain - physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual - on someone else.

The second is the tortured who is the one suffering the pain inflicted. Torture happens whenever pain is inflicted… regardless of the "reason" or "motivation" or "justification" behind it.

First Level Torture: The first level of torture exists where both the torturer and the tortured are not in complete agreement with the torture process. These are generally situations where the tortured person has protested against the system which the torturer is sworn to uphold. This system can be a church, a government, a government agency, an organization, a group, etc that has deemed torture necessary to preserve itself and it's "way of life".

The torturer undertakes the torture because "they are doing their job" not because they fundamentally agree with the need for or the methods used in the torture process. Since the torturer does not agree with the process, they will reach a "moral limit" beyond which they will not go in inflicting pain. When it is reached, they will act to reduce the pain of the tortured, even if it means risking their own life.

The tortured is free to have the comfort that hatred of the torture provides. At the first level, the torture process has the potential to build the character of the "victim" because they have the internal consciousness that "they are right and the torture is wrong". Some glory in their "martyrdom" and wear their scars with pride.

The duration of the torture is relatively brief because the tortured die of their wounds. There is usually little incentive on the part of the system to keep the tortured alive once the goal of torture is met.

Second Level Torture: The second level of torture exists where torturer is in complete agreement with the torture process while the tortured person is not. Again, these are generally situations where the tortured person has protested against the system which the torturer is sworn to uphold.

The torturer undertakes the torture because they fundamentally agree with the need for or the methods in the torture process. Usually the torturer agrees to take on the torture because they believe it is either "for the good of the cause they are serving" or "for the higher good of the person being corrected". Since the torturer perceives themselves as "being good", there is no limit to their ability to inflict pain.

The tortured is free to have the comfort that hatred of the torture provides. At the second level, the torture process has also the potential to build the character of the "victim" because they have the consciousness that "they are right and the torture is wrong".

And yet they may begin to question the "rightness of their cause" if there is something in the torturer they can admire (ie. if the torturer is perceived to be "holy" or "righteous" by others). The tortured become damaged to the extent they "identify with" their torturer.

The duration of the torture is usually extremely brief because the tortured die of wounds inflicted with great gusto by the torturer. There is little incentive on the part of the system to keep the tortured alive.

Third Level Torture: The third level of torture exists where torturer is in complete agreement with the torture process while the tortured person is in partial agreement. These are generally situations where the tortured has sought the assistance of the torturer and by doing so voluntarily surrenders their power by agreeing to allow the torturer to having complete control over administer "their" process.

The torturer undertakes inflicting the pain because it is part of their professional calling (they are doctors, lawyers, healers, or other professionals). Torture "happens" because inflicting pain is often an integral and necessary part of the healing process. Since the torturer perceives themselves as "helping and being in charge", there is an inherent risk that they will inflict pain beyond what is "necessary".

The tortured is legally free - if not always psychologically free - to end the process if the benefit of the "process" is not produced. At the third level, the torture has great potential to damage the character of the "patient" because they "do not know what is supposed to be going on" and so they are likely to "put up with anything".

They will doubt themselves if there is something in the torturer they admire (ie. if the torturer is "a top expert in their field" or "is admired by others"). The tortured's defenses are "weakened" because they are in a "lesser position" because they have come to another for help.

The duration of the torture is indefinite: it lasts as long as the tortured agree to go along with the process. Many would object to having medical, healing, or legal processes labeled as torture. However, if a by product of these processes are the infliction of pain either physically, mentally, emotionally, or spiritually then it is torture.

So beware the practitioner who vacuum cleans all the money from your pocket. Beware the healer who tells you "something is wrong with you" if you choose to cry or otherwise honor signals coming from your body-mind during a treatment. Beware the doctor who is indifferent to your suffering because they have lost to capacity to sympathize with your pain. Beware anyone who "helps you" and does not have your best interests at heart when you put yourself in their hands. These are your torturers.

Fourth Level Torture: The fourth level of torture exists where both the torturer and the tortured are in complete agreement with the torture process. These are generally "family-friend" situations where the tortured is in a "love relationship with their torturer". The love of the tortured for the torturer is the means by which the tortured are robbed of all power and freedom to end the torture. While the tortured "loves" the torturer, the torture will continue and usually will escalate until the tortured is either killed or gets help to end their pain.

The torturer undertakes inflicting the pain because they have the desire to do so, the control over the body-mind of the tortured, and the means to "get away" with the torture. The desire to do so (as in "I am repaying you for what you did to me in past live(s)") and the power to do (as in a parent overpowering a child) almost always springs from pre-arranged karma. The means to get away with it also come from these same karmic placements.

Torture will flourish in a society that will support the abuse (as in Islamic countries where murdering women to preserve family honor is socially acceptable).

It will go unchecked in closed communities where inflicting pain is considered part of socialization (as in Amish communities where "applying the rod" would otherwise be considered felony child abuse) or tradition (as in Irish Traveler towns where girls are expected to bear children too young to be medically safe).

It will find fertile ground wherever there is fanaticism is cultivated (ie. among extreme branches of Scientologists or other fringe mind control type cults).

The tortured is almost never legally or psychologically free to end the torture process. At the fourth level, the torture process has total potential to damage the character of the tortured because they "love" their torturer. This love makes them ready to "put up with anything".

They will doubt themselves before they ever doubt the torturer. The tortured will believe that they are the cause for the torture (as in "If only I had done this…, Daddy would not have hit me" or "If only I had not done that…, Mommy would love me").

The duration of the torture is indefinite: it lasts as long as the tortured continues to be in love with the torturer and their body-mind can support the abuse. For many, the torture can last a lifetime.

The easiest way to tell if you are being tortured is to determine which of your twelve basic human rights are being violated. These basic human rights are yours as a Divine Spark of God. They are yours regardless of whatever culture, religion, government, or other social group that you have incarnated into. If those groups cannot support your basic human rights, then they should be resisted. As the tried and true Quaker Proverb goes, "Resistance to tyranny is obedience to God".

Resistance means not being a willing participant in your own abuse by submitting to the tyranny. The most fundamental right of all is that no one has the right to do you harm. This is a right you must cherish and defend. Your freedom begins because you are Soul and God loves you. Your freedom ends when you harm another because in doing so you come in agreement to "reap" what you have "sown".

The darkness of torture can only be understood in the light of your Twelve Basic Human Rights... Cherish your rights now!

If you are wondering if you are being tortured, here is a list of behaviors that TORTURERS use to control their VICTIMS:

Torture of the Body
* any physical assault: (pulling, pushing, pulling hair, squeezing hand, arm twisting, spitting, having things thrown at one, being hit by things, being restrained, being urinated on, forced abortion/injury, any unwanted physical contact)
* any physical battery: (kicking, punching, pinching, slapping, hitting, shaking, cutting, burning, choking, smothering, being thrown, being forced fed, being knifed, being shot, broken bones, challenging one to be violent, attempted/actual murder)
* any abuse inside the home (locking one in or out, harming pets, throwing out/ destroying property, slamming doors, throwing objects, ripping clothing, neglecting basic needs, deliberately creating a mess for one to clean, not coming home when needed, coming home drunk or stoned, displaying violent pictures/videos/games)
* any abuse inside the car (driving too fast, driving recklessly, driving while intoxicated, prohibiting one from using the car (by tampering with the engine, chaining the steering wheel, taking the keys, etc), forcing one out of the car (when angry or while it's in motion), threatening to kill one by driving into an oncoming car or off the road, chasing or hitting one with a car, killing one in an "accident")
* any financial abuse (stealing or witholding money, keeping "secret funds", spending money beyond means, pressuring one to take full responsibility for finances, not paying fair share of bills, spending on addictions/gambling/sexual services, not spending money on special events, pressuring or controlling working)

Torture of the Mind
* any repeated threats (about being killed, about being injured, constant intimidation, constant pressuring or trickery, standing too close, invading personal space, constant put downs and/or being ignored in public, taking advantage of one's fear of something, threatening to get drunk or stoned or violent "or else", expecting one to conform "or else", abuser must always get their own way)
* any intentional deprivation (restricting food or drink, sleep deprivation, denying medical treatment, hiding or witholding necessary medications, periods of punishing silence, not allowing one access to family and friends, being rude/encouraging rudeness to friends or relatives or other important individuals)
* any constant barrage of criticism (breaking down self respect, denying self worth, attacking self esteem, name calling, finding fault, verbal threats, constant yelling, laughing in one face, making one think they are crazy/stupid/worthless, minimizing one's work or contribution, comparing one to others to show one is inferior, always being disbelieved by the abuser despite objective evidence to the contrary)
* any intentional self destruction (pressure to become hooked on alcohol, cigarettes, drugs, or meds, pressure to self mutilate, suggesting or promoting suicide or murder, forcing one to witness/participate in rituals/human sacrifices, intermittent abandonment, gaslighting (saying one thing - meaning another)
* any legal damage (making one do illegal things (sell drugs, turn tricks, steal money), pressure to mutilate animals, forced cannibalism, making false accusations, threatening to report one to authorities, forcing one to drop charges, pressuring one to stay around during drug or alcohol abuse, lying under oath (perjury))

Torture of the Emotions
* any emotional abuse (overpowering one's emotions, denying one's emotions, repressing one's emotions, dissociating one from one's emotions, projecting one's emotions on others, minimizing the importance of one's emotions, emotional sandbagging, converting one's emotions into self damaging behaviors, constant manipulation, always bringing up old issues, never really forgiving: holding grudges, easily angered/arguing, too jealous, making one feel guilty, refusing to deal with issues, having a double standard for abused/abuser)
* any unwanted/forced sexual contact (pinching, slapping, grabbing, poking, burning genitals, treatment as a sex object, inspecting/probing the body prior to sexual contact, degrading body parts, critizing sexual ability, false accusations of participation in sexual affairs, badgering/hounding/threatening for sex, forcing sex to point of rape, being rough with sex, choking/mutilation during sex, unwanted viewing of pornography, sex obtained only by administering drugs or alcohol)
* any sex required as payment or with unwanted partners or at inappropriate times (having sex because of a lost argument/lost bet, sex as payment for drugs and alcohol, forced to have sex for money, forced to have sex while being recorded for porn, forced to have sex with those infected with a sexually transmitted disease, forced to have sex with animals, forced to have swinger/swapper sex, forced to have sex when ill or too close to childbirth or surgery, unwanted fondling in public, purposely not washing & expecting sex, sexual comments/jokes in public, constant name calling (whore, slut, frigid, bitch), witholding affection to get sex)
* any restrictions/control on personal preferences (dictating mode of dress, dictating acceptable behaviors, dictating friends, dictating acceptable activities, insisting on accompanying one everywhere, censoring one's mail, taking the phones or denying one use of the phones, listening in on private phone conversations, not giving one any space or a moment of privacy, demanding a precise accounting of one's time/deviations from routine, denying or taking away responsibilities)
* any restrictions/control on social activities (controlling what one does, who one sees, who one talks to, what one reads, where one goes, how one spends their personal time, isolating one from others, change of abuser personality with others (good in public with others/bad in private with the one abused), making a "scene" in public, treating one like a servant/child, not passing on messages, refusing to do things with/for one, preventing one from taking a job, displaying certain controlling mannerisms (snapping fingers, pointing) to get one's way with the abused)

Torture of the Spirit
* any misuse of religion (misquoting/misinterpretation of scripture to justify abuse or dominance, using church position to pressure for sex or favors, excessive spending for religion, preventing one from attending church, mocking/belittling one's religious beliefs, requiring sex acts or drug use as religious acts)
* any abuse of children (assaulting one in front of their children, forcing one to stay home with the children all day and night without any help or relief, embarrassing/ putting down one's parenting ability in front of their children, teaching children to abuse their parent through name calling, hitting, blatant disrespect, etc, not assuming one's responsibility for children, threatening to abduct the children)
* any abuse during pregnancy and childbirth (forcing one to have an abortion, denial of responsibility/support for the child refusing sex because a pregnant body is ugly, making one feel bad for time spent with the baby, refusing support during the pregnancy, childbirth, and childhood, blame because the infant is the "wrong" sex, pouting, sulking or getting angry when the baby is the center of attention)
* any abuse during separation or divorce (buying off kids with expensive gifts, not showing up on time to pick up kids, not having kids back on time, pumping kids for personal information on the partner's new life (new partners, new work, etc), telling kids one is responsible for breaking up the family and causing the divorce, using kids to transport hurtful messages, denying court ordered access to children)

Credits: from channeled information and in memory of the heroes of September 11, 2001 and from Lady Care's Abuse Realm and "God" logo by peacemonger.org.