From The Inside

Christianity Behind Bars

Let me answer Sheena C’s question about how a prisoner who is a Christian “lives out” their Christian life. That got me thinking about how we think the average Christian on the outside “lives out” their Christian life – but that’s maybe for another day.

I won’t answer the question in full – but let me start today about some of the difficulties that Christian prisoners face:

1. Privacy and space – for the majority of prisoners the biggest struggle is in the fact that they will be sharing a cell, and therefore get very little (if any!) time alone to pray or read their Bibles. Often they have to wait until their cell-mate is sleeping – or get up early in the morning while the other is sleeping. In shared cells everything needs to be about compromise and negotiation – so even to have the TV off to listen to music needs to be agreed upon. And even then the co-pilot (as they are called!) may not like your worship songs! (Personal CD players become the answer of the day!). Imagine your life when you effectively NEVER get 5 mins to yourself. (I know of some guys who read their Bibles in the toilet!)

Even those who have single cells - while having things much easier – still struggle to get peace and quiet from the noise coming from the cells around.

2. Public Glare – another consequence of the lack of privacy is the fact that it’s difficult to keep your faith private. What happens is, when it is time for example, for a church service, Prison Fellowship etc – is that when it is time to be escorted to the chapel the officers at the desk on the halls shout out the name of the activity, e.g. “Church”. All those who want to go then have to make their ways to the hall door – while everyone else rubber-necks and watches. Most of these activities happen during “recreational time”, so most prisoners will be in the open spaces chatting, playing pool, table tennis etc, As a prisoner, when you choose to go to the chapel for an activity – everyone gets to watch!

3.  Verbal Abuse/Humour – because of the above the guys can be subject to a lot of humour and banter – most of it light-hearted, some of it more malicious. This is from prisoners and staff. Most times folk, especially the officers, are just trying to be funny – but the guys have to get used to being called “the holy men” or the “happy-clappies” or the “Jesus bunch” or whatever. The more mature and sincere Christian can maybe put up with this – for “seekers” or new Christians not used to going to church even on the outside it can be difficult to bear, and to be honest because of 2 and 3 many guys who may want to come down to the church simply don’t because it isn’t worth the hassle.

4. Another aspect of this is everyone has an opinion on why you are even attending church things. “Chasing parole” is one of the most common accusations – but in general there can be great cynicism as to why you are going along; there are a whole bunch wanting to make sure you live up to it (and pick you up when you don’t!) and some who even get concerned about what you are doing. You can sit with the guys every night (serving your umpteenth sentence for violence, drugs or whatever) and take drugs, look at porn, play poker, get into fights – you name it and nobody bats an eyelid. Start “getting religion” and there will be many expressing concern that you are messing up your life, being brain-washed, on the verge of a break-down. The other stuff is seen as normal – becoming a Christian shows that you’re screwed up!

These are just some of the issues that those wanting to be Christians need to face as they live out their faith. As you can see it’s not easy – and you need a bit of courage, back-bone and thick skin even to be able to attend church activities. But then again Jesus never said that it would be easy – and in some ways it’s good for the guys, giving them an inner strength and spiritual muscle. And while it’s a pain that it can deter those who would be interested – at the same time it acts as a filter separating the men from the boys, and meaning that those who come along are usually there for the right reasons.

Farewell Poor Shambo!!

We miss you already!!  There was never a cow such as Shambo!  (Sorry, I'm getting too caught up in the emotion of it all - but I wonder if he provided some nice steaks!)

Yes Shambo the "sacred" temple cow has finally been humanely destroyed after proving positive for bovine TB, and following a three month legal battle to save his life by those who saw him as sacred. (Read the story here).

Now I'm not a hindu, so I don't share their beliefs about sacred bulls, although I do like and respect their views on the sacredness of life as a whole, and that all of us have a "spark" of God in us simply because we have life - interesting concept.  But I was intrigued by the comments of Keith Porteous Wood, executive director of the National Secular Society - who said that he was glad that "common sense had prevailed at last" - and that he found it "absolutely unacceptable" for people to say that their religious rights were supreme.

Eh, Mr Wood - you too are entitled to your beliefs (for that is all they are).  But surely you are not trying to say that your rights/beliefs are supreme??  I'm not sure that the whole argument of the "supremacy" of rights and beliefs is necessarily a helpful one.