This question is prompted by a New York Times article I won't link to because they expire and you have to pay to see the archives. The long and short of it is that protestant education and services are starting to appear with great frequency in US Correction Facilities, which are financed by taxpayers. In one prison in Iowa, prisoners in a Christian program are housed separately, in better facilities with nicer amenities. Prisoners only get to stay in the program if they make "acceptable spiritual progress". I'm not question separation of curch and state here, I'm questioning the function of religion. Does religious education like this reduce crime? Does religous sexual education reduce teen pregnancies? Does a religous education make for more moral people? Should the school voucher program apply to religous schools and should prisons have programs like this funded by taxpayers?
Personally, I'd say no on all counts, but I want to hear what you guys think.
2006-12-09 13:26:47 · 3 answers · asked by gheefreak 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
Ok. So I'm kind of questioning separation of church and state.
What do you think of that?
2006-12-09 13:33:28 · update #1
Education about religions and non-religious beliefs is valuable. Religious education is indoctrination and endorsement of a specific state religion. They do it in prison because prisoners don't have a choice or a voice.
2006-12-09 13:31:21 · answer #1 · answered by Skeff 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Well religion can help people turn their life around. However I don't think anyone could ever prove that it works. Since even religious people commit crimes. Like a preist in a neighboring town that shot his wife. Also the preist who molest kids. There are people out there with no religion and never turn to crime and can be the nicest, understanding, law abiding people. I think knowlege could help people in prison but that could also mean finishing highschool, doing college classes, and even getting therapy.
2006-12-09 13:33:56 · answer #2 · answered by Gypsy Cat 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it has been proven that those who graduate from a prison reform program that 90% do not re offend! that's amazing. considering that those in prison re offend about 80% of the time.
as for the other stuff mentioned, I think if their parents want to put their kids in those programs, it's just fine. considering all of the junk in public schools today.
2006-12-09 13:34:40 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋