Why do the non religious represent less than one percent of the prison population......?

Question

yet they represent up to 10-16 percent of the general population.

sample : "of those executed for murder 65% were
Catholics, 26% Protestants, 6% Hebrew, 2% Pagan, and less than 1/3 of 1%
non-religious."

Now I thought that it was us non religious folk who were the ones with no sense of morality yet we make up a tiny proportion of the prison population compared to our general numbers.

To put it simply

69 % of the US population is christian and 84 % of the prison population is christian yet 10-16 % of the US population is non religious yet they ony represent 0.3 % of the prison population.

Why do you think this is so ?

Surely all the "nasty" secular people should have a disproportionate amount in prisons.

Sources

The Federal Bureau of Prisons

"The New Criminology," Max D. Schlapp and Edward E. Smith

Answer 1

To a non-religious person, this is the only life. I believe that taking away a person's one and only life is unforgivable - I think many other non-believers also feel this way. A religious criminal person might believe they are only sending their victims to heaven - doesn't seem so bad that way, really.

Or maybe the percentage is exactly the same in the joint but they'd never admit to it. They'd probably be killed by their fellow inmates in short order if they went around saying they were atheists.

Answer 2

First, we all take comfort in the "fact" that we can "prove" whatever we want using numbers.

Second, take a moment and imagine the following scenario. You are being intake processed for your prison time. You are asked what religion you are. If you declare a religion, then you get some church time on Sunday, access to Bible study groups, etc, etc, etc, If you DON'T declare a religion, then you DON'T get all that, but you sure might get a bit more harassment from the GP. Just because someone checkmarks a box on a questionaire doesn't make them "religious", does it?

Before you quote numbers and attempt to build "proof" of something from it, you might want to consider the validity of the data you're using.

I base this answer on conversations with friends who work for the State prison system and also those who work as jailers for the county.

Answer 3

Because in some cases they can get the time in prison cut down by getting saved. Recognizeing their sin and apoligizeing to the victums family and showing a complete change of heart.
Some on death row have gotten there sentence changed to life rather than death. The quickest way to get out of prison early is to get into a religon. When they come to the prison and convert you that church will fight for your release knowing your a changed man. Then you have a big rich religous organization on your side. You see the light and now are on the right path.
Christ is in your heart, etc. etc. what ever that religion wants to hear. they are con artists. Which when they get early parole usually go back to what they were doing before and rarely do they continue in the religion that helped them get out.
Everyone uses religion, including the governement.

Answer 4

Just because people say they're "Christians", it doesn't mean their living their lives as Christians. Then, some people just make mistakes. You have to look at the big picture here. Paul was thrown in jail numerous times, he didn't do anything but preach the gospel....so all of that means nothing. There are plenty of "lost" Christians, who need help to find their way back to Christ. They may tell you they're Baptist, Methodist, or whatever, but ask them how many every read the bible, go to church, or even abide by the word of God...not many. If that's the case, then they're just like some non-believers. You can't be Christian, if you're not following Christ.

Answer 5

we're all human and make mistakes and a lot of these christians in prision have found the Lord while in there. Just because they were raised catholics or protestants doesnt mean that live for life for the Lord. Many people claim to be of God and arent. Who are you or I to judge someones heart.

I dont know where you got your idea that we think non believers are evil people. I know lots of unbelievers who have very high morals and values. I also know plenty of Christians who I really wonder about. The only difference between you and me is that I believe that Jesus was sent here to die for you and me and I have accepted Him and choose to live my life for Him. Not to judge, but to show love and be peaceful in all I do.

Answer 6

Stop baiting them! Actually there could be two reasons, one is cause and effect, the religious are a little sloppier with their morals in that they need a prop to determine whats wrong or right or, more likely, it is that those who are in prison are disproportianately poor and less educated something that is also clearly associated with religious belief!

Answer 7

The flaw in your logic is the assumption that criminals are more religious than the general population, while your data show only that prison inmates are.

My guess is that the prison experience, like all traumatic experiences, tends to encourage the adoption of a system of religious belief as a survival mechanism. "No atheists in foxholes," remember?

Answer 8

Just goes to show that there are bad people everywhere. You also will probably find that these criminals had good families and that they were the only bad apples in the barrel. People make the decision to be good or bad people early on. I believe that most criminals are sociopaths, and that has NOTHING to do with religion.

Answer 9

I use to work at a prison, and honestly, I think they "find God" to look good. The more people they suck up to and the more they can look like they are "turning their lives around" the earlier they may be released for parole.

Answer 10

Coz once they got to jail they are looking for earning the favour of society and court so they become religious that is why...or maybe they are just more fearful

It happens the same way with people who is about to die and then they finally repent and recall God.