Prisons and Christianity?

[Zarcath]

Uhh my post timed out or something, is it unreadable to everyone else?

My question was why does it seem like all these inmates are preaching christianity as their saviors. Where's all the buddhists and islamics? Are prisons teaching convicts that their only hope of parole is through jesus?

Just basing this opinion off TV, seems like everytime I watch a prison show the inmates are always talking about jesus/god. And it seems like all the guards/wardens think their fate is in "gods hands". Most prisons are owned by the state aren't they?

[LikeWow!]

Location. I bet the popular religion of the region is advanced in prisons almost everywhere in the world. Exclusions apply to areas like Palestine , Gaza, and such.

By design, the popular religions of today were made to help keep the folks with a proclivity to prison visits in-check.

Choice of religion is not a logical endeavor. You do it to be one of the kewl kids.

[Faltigoth]

There is an old axiom that goes something like, 'There are no athiests in foxholes'. Point being, that when the shit hits the fan and people start shooting at you and trying to kill you, even the most die-hard nonbelievers turn to God for a little help.

I imagine the same sort of concept applies to prison - not quite a foxhole but still a pretty goddamn scary and dangerous place if you are in one of those max security type places, for both inmates and guards - so it makes sense that many people in such places 'find Jesus' or whatever because its sure as hell better than having no hope at all.

Of course, it could all be a statewide conspiracy to placate prisoners by forcing them to accept religion (see Marx: religion is the opium of the masses) but I doubt it. Even Mike Tyson converted to Islam while in jail; it isn't just Christianity. Christianity and Islam make sense for Western prison converts because they are the most 'mainstream' religions in the West and the most prominent ones featuring a 'higher power'. Many of the eastern religions (excluding hinduism, of course) are more focused on meditation and inner peace rather than calling on 'God' or 'gods' to help. Of course, in the East, perhaps prisoners focus on meditation to help them get through; I don't know much about Chinese / Japanese / Vietnamese / Korean prisons and I really don't want to know.

I guess what I am trying to say is I personally think its human nature for people in deep shit to call out to God for help; humans have been doing it since the dawn of civilization in some way, shape or form and will probably continue to do it for a long damn time. Prisoners would fit into that 'in deep shit' mold, in my opinion.

[Eomer]

I was going to say that I thought Islam was fairly big in prisons as well, especially among black inmates. The whole Nation of Islam thing.

[Tuco]

Prisons are also a semi-desirable place for many groups of christians to witness to. Obviously Miss Betty Christian isn't going into the rapist jails, but she might go to the junior jails, while men groups want to preach to even the more dangerous criminals.

There's a few reasons to this, partially to demonstrate the mercy and kindness of God to someone who jacked a car over a evolutionist pseudo-intellectual (generally, the futher in sin someone is, the more joyful their repentance. Like taking a shower after having a mud fight, compared to "It's been 10 hours since my shower but I have a date so I'll do it agian), and also because jails are more interesting/exciting than most local forms of ministry or evangilism.

[TheGoat]

Theoretically, adopting the views of Christianity (or any religion for that matter) while in jail is usually a ploy to convince the parole board that you should be released early. This is not to say that some convicts don't find Jesus while they are up the river, because there are a fair number of crooks that go to the can and find Jesus and come out trying to do God's work and stick to it. What's really alarming is the amount of Federal dollars being funnelled to religious organizations (primarily Christian/Catholics, but a fair amount goes to Islam as well) under the guise of "prisoner reform" programs.

Apparently, finding Jesus while you're locked up and atoning for your sins is equivalent to reforming a criminal. I don't know that any reliable studies have been conducted with regard to recidivism rates amongst those who found Jesus.

Unfortunately, Bush and his lapdog Congress have done a pretty good job of turning the Supreme Court into a kangaroo court, and I think we can expect a further erosion of rights and principals we now take for granted at the hands of John Roberts and his cohorts. I am certain he and Scalia are just chomping at the bit to hear arguments regarding domestic wiretapping.

[Tuco]

Apparently, finding Jesus while you're locked up and atoning for your sins is equivalent to reforming a criminal. I don't know that any reliable studies have been conducted with regard to recidivism rates amongst those who found Jesus.

I'd be interested in seeing a study like this.

[GrobbeeTrull]

I've met a few that take their religion pretty seriously and haven't been back to jail since - I'd wager this is one of those things where statistics don't really do it justice, since you can't put a value on a person's life, and the ability to take one violent criminal and reform them is worth a lot.

[dak]

Where's all the buddhists and islamics?

Shanked and Black respectively

[Soriak]

Originally Posted by GrobbeeTrull

I've met a few that take their religion pretty seriously and haven't been back to jail since - I'd wager this is one of those things where statistics don't really do it justice, since you can't put a value on a person's life, and the ability to take one violent criminal and reform them is worth a lot.

You don't need to put a value on someone's life for a statistic like that. Just find out how many criminals who did not convert to a religion end up back in jail, compared to those who did convert after having comitted the same offense.

[Bralkan]

the quakers made the first prison.

[Kallian]

Originally Posted by Bralkan

the quakers made the first prison.

proof plz

[Bralkan]

Originally Posted by Kallian

proof plz

http://www.missioncreep.com/mw/estate.html

May not be exactly proof, but that is the prison. I guess I should have added "first [modern] prison [in the united states]"

[Tuco]

God made the first prison when he sent Cain to the land of Nod!

This was also the first case of a prison system failing, because Cain returned to fight GDI and work with aliens to poison the world with Tiberium.

[findar]

heh, my mom actually does prison minestry(sp?), where a group of her + friends go and preach(its really just talk) to mostly people in jail on drug charges. my understanding is they go in and talk a little about god but really just try and be friends to the people.

does it help them? maybe. does it help her? sure. it gives her a sense of being and reward more then her current job(as i understand) morally. i can understand it too, as ive also done volunteer work(habitat for humanity, grace, etc) and its a pretty cool feeling you get afterwards. does it truely reform all criminals? nah, and i wouldnt even believe that all that say they are truely reformed. but knowing that some might see people being nice and change even just a little is pretty cool. jail blows btw, its real boring, so getting bi-weekly visits from outsiders is probly a nice break in life.