Seperation of church and state is fine and good, but what happens when religious teachings yield better results than secular programs?
In a nutshell, [Byron] Johnson [of the University of Pennsylvania's Center for Research on Religion and Urban Civil Society] found that those who completed all three program phases were "significantly less likely than the matched groups" to be either arrested (17.3% vs. 35%) or incarcerated (only 8% vs. 20.3%) in the first two years after release.Here's how spiritual conversion reads in academese: "Narratives of IFI members revealed five spiritual transformation themes that are consistent with characteristics long associated with offender rehabilitation: (a) I'm not who I used to be; (b) spiritual growth; (c) God versus the prison code; (d) positive outlook on life; and (e) the need to give back to society."
All this, no doubt, will be profoundly discomforting to those who like the results but don't like the religion; a similar program in Iowa is already being sued by the Americans United for Separation of Church and State. But the question is joined: Can you achieve the positive social outcomes of faith-based programs if you strip out the faith?
Unless the life and teachings of Jesus Christ in his word is shared in the prison system, multiple thousands of inmate, and their families, have no chance at all in turning their lives around. I have heard all the other cures... will power, the power of the group, I will stop for my family, I want to do everything my way and come out okay, etc...
These ideas are all a lie. The life of Christ is what transforms a person. The Holy Spirit is the powerhouse of change. Outside of the working of the Holy Spirit it is impossible to change human nature. I have seen too many come back to prison time and time again. I have seen so little of Jesus Christ manifested inside the prison, but I know he wants to. The inmate code specializes in loyalty to lies, deceit, dishonesty, and to those who do such things. Loyalty to Jesus produces the light in a person who can see the truth of life and reality. The light which will shine inside the cells of darkness many of our inmates have been in for years. I encourage all of us who love Jesus to be bold in our faith, to have love that never fails, the hope that Jesus will provide a better tomorrow. Salt and light.