Opus36

I have been in a bit of a debate with a friend. This is a statment they made

"Religion must have impact on lives. Look at the people in prison and how they change when they start believing. If we had more people that believed, PRACTICED and raised their kids the same way -society would be a lot better off."

So why do prisioners convert?

My responses back was that it came down to parenting. That maybe their parents didn't teach them some moral values like dont' kill people and don't steal there stuff. Some parents turn to religion to help guide them in parenting. Most religions preach these vaues. When they ended up in prison and asked them selfs why they were there, they stumbled accross religion.

Just wondering if any one had any thoughts on why they think prisioners convert.

Rhea

My thoughts:

1. Do they? Says who? Where?
2. Prisoners report that claiming religion gets them better treatment in prison. That could be one reason...
3. How does this compare to recidivism? Do the converts (however many there are) tend to repeat crimes less? Or the same as everyone else.
4. Which brings up: How many times do they convert? Every time they go to jail?

lpetrich

I once saw someone's comment about this subject that started with "God lives in jail", as judged by where one sees the most devotion to that entity.

Also, in practice, murder and theft don't seem to be considered religious offenses -- does anyone ever get excommunicated or whatever for those?

christ-on-a-stick

To better their chances for parole at their next hearing???

From a legal standpoint, parole boards are not supposed to discriminate on the basis of many things including religion (presumably against OR in favor of), but there are many examples of prisoners up for parole getting "rave reviews" as inmates in part due to their religious conversions (religious activities being considered "worthy" and evidence of positive change) as well as private citizens coming forth to show support for the hopeful-parolee, citing their religious transformation as evidence of change.

Ronin

My opinion, from twelve years of interviewing violent felons and the frequency in which I have seen their "only god can judge me" tats, I would have to say that it is the whole promise of salvation in paradise after death regardless of your worldly behavior as long as you 'believe' in Christ Jesus as you suck your last breath.

That is the big draw.

Mr. Dahmer, calling Mr. Dahmer.

christ-on-a-stick

And Ted Bundy.
And Karla Faye Tucker.

(and still in the land of the living...)

Charles Berkowitz (Son of Sam), now a
"Born-Again Christian"

Susan Atkins (Manson Family) - in a 1999 letter, one of her retired correctional officers said glowingly "Susan has answered the Lord's call"

Sabine Grant

Maybe despair... I am trying to imagine what my thoughts would be if I were awaiting for my execution. There would be no more hope. No plans for the future. Soly the knowledge that my life would end on a specific day. My mortality would become so real. I would feel terribly isolated. Being sentenced to death means that I have lost the priviledge and right to live. I would also deeply regret the lives I took. I would have knowledge that I cannot change the past. The present being a torment, I would desperatly seek means to find a future somehow. I would then entrust the promise of an afterlife where the past could be erased and the future be eternal.
Actualy I can hardly imagine the poignant thoughts going thru the mind of such a person.
Personaly as much as I deplore people killing people, I wish for the man or woman who recieves the lethal injection to die with a sense of peace. I have wondered often how I would feel if I were given the opportunity to validate one last time their lives. One last hug.. one last squeeze of the hand. It must be horrible to die alone with the knowledge that other humans are rejoicing over one's own death.
I realize I am going off topic...I chose to explore those thoughts because conversions are so very personal. At least they should be.
It cannot be a crowd phenomenon in a restricted space where all your actions are limited and you may count hours and maybe even minutes.
Maybe for some prisonners, claiming a conversion is a way to be paroled... but I so very much need to believe that for the ones who face death, that no matter how monstruous their crimes may have been, it is possible that they seek a last validation of their life thru faith. I have much faith myself in the ability of human beings to change.

Ronin

As do I...from the nonsensical and ridiculous world of superstition to the beacon of reason, self-reliance and accountability.

Rhea

It's my impression that most death-row inmates hold out hope for their sentence to be commuted right up until the last minute. It has certainly happened a great many times. Hours before the execution - minutes, even. A call from the Governor.

It would seem that the "last validation" really has to wait until the earthly hope of commutation is no longer cluttering the screen. When the needle is injected, perhaps.

Some of them face their sentence refusing stays and appeals. Those Christians perhaps are looking for the validation. The others - it's hard to say, I think.

And as for non-death-row inmates, yes there is also much to be gained by using the password.

Defiant Heretic

Of course the question is, did they actually convert or were they already religious when they went in there?

http://www.holysmoke.org/icr-pri.htm

There's the statistics. They speak for themselves.