WHY DO PRISONERS DISCOVER "RELIGION"?

by Mary 21 Replies latest jw friends

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  Mary

  Why is it that a number of people who commit the most henious of crimes, suddenly become "born again christians"--usually while sitting on death row? Do they think this somehow absolves them of what they did?

  I remember when Karla Fay Tucker was interviewed shortly before her execution (in Texas) a few years ago. She had been convicted of a particularly gruesome murder where she had stabbed a woman something like 85 times with an icepick.....she discovers religion in prison and spoke about God and Jesus with that glazed, fanatical glow in her eyes.

  Another guy (can't remember his name, but he was on Geraldo years ago), had gotten involved in some Satanic worship, killed his mother and step father in their sleep, stood over them and laughed. Lo and behold he too became a "born again Christian" and asked for clemency because of his faith in Ja-E-sus!!

  Why is it that all these loons suddenly find religion so appealing? Maybe if they had "discovered Jesus" before they committed these horrific crimes, they'd still be around........
• 

  ValiantBoy

  Some people are truly remorseful. Most do it to gain sympathy or to attempt to salve their own conscience. I have llittle respect for jailhouse conversions. They usually don't last.

  Most claim that since they have found God and changed, God has forgiven them, so society should too. What a cop out. I dismiss those claims immediately. But, in some cases, the people acknowledge that they have found God but still acknowledge their indebtedness to society and just work at being better people--not at getting out early or having charges dropped. I respect those people a lot more.
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  iiz2cool

  I spent a week in jail in the early eighties and the place was infested with religious reading material. It was mostly novels about the experiences of convicts turned "born again christian."

  When you have a lot of time on your hands you're tempted to read just about anything out of desperation.

  Walter
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  Wolfgirl

  Boredom? Hope that they'll get out early if they "find god?"
• 

  Doubtfully Yours

  Some comedian once said: "Hey, I know exactly where God lives. Want to know? In prison!!! Everyone that goes to prison suddently finds God. It must be where he lives!"

  Of course, as soon as they get out of prison, the story changes and they go back to their old ways.

  Never ever believe a prisoner has changed while still in prison. Let them serve their sentence for their crimes, then, if they still have time left, then they can show us all they've changed.

  DY
• 

  TheEdge

  Karla Fay Tucker

  Now THERE'S a name I wouldn't like to try and say after a few beers, lol......

  ....same here it seems - Now we have the Yorkshire Ripper, but prior to him was Myra Hindley who professed to have found God / Jesus.

  1 ) Guilt - perhaps some are genuine and feel remorse.

  2) Fear - Now society has caught them and handed out its maximum penalty, there's only God's judgement left - with no benefit of a jury or being able to lie in Court!

  3) Boredom - with limited activities available, and perhaps one of the few highlights now being the prison library, I imagine prisoners get more time to ponder.

  4) Parole - by showing remorse, to hopefully get early release.

  5) Influence - With only the same human contact daily, and therefore just common experiences, any 'outside' experience would ''over-arouse'' the inmate. ie, a visit from ANY religious organisation would break the mundane cycle of prison interaction.

  Am not quite sure what order I would put these in though.
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  lonelysheep

  Desperation to feel good inside about who they are!

  To feel like the crime they committed is abolished and they have a right to start over as if they've never done anything wrong.

  They could be at their lowest, most vulnerable point in life and will believe any god stories they're told. (like me when I started studying w/jw's...though I was not a prisoner)
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  jwbot

  Boredom, desparation, emptiness and a reason to exist. Why else would anyone prisoner or not find religion?
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  eljefe

  The Parole Boards like to hear how they have reformed. Having a member of the clergy vouch for them helps out.
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  freedom96

  I could be as simple as they have a lot of time on their hands to think.

  Especially if they are on death row, they must figure to themselves that they better get their act together, because that is the last chance for them.

  Others, I do believe, think it sounds good to whomever is going to help them get out.