What is the ethical implication of using religion to reduce crime.

Discuss philosophical questions regarding theism (and atheism), and discuss religion as it relates to philosophy. This includes any philosophical discussions that happen to be about god, gods, or a 'higher power' or the belief of them. This also generally includes philosophical topics about organized or ritualistic mysticism or about organized, common or ritualistic beliefs in the existence of supernatural phenomenon.
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Alwaysasking
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What is the ethical implication of using religion to reduce crime.

Post by Alwaysasking »

Context: Prison environment in countries with high gang violence. Let's say El Salvador.

Question 1: I want to learn more about the ethical implication of using religion to reduce numbers of gang members going back to gang lifestyle once they have served their time. In some cases, prisoners are enticed to adopt the religion by being offered a better cell environment and how is this ethical?

Question 2: From the perspective of the gang members/prisoners, they may not necessarily be offered many choices of religion, so how is this ethical by only offering one religious option?

I am open to people having other thoughts of the same topic too. I do apologise if this topic has already been covered and if so, please direct me to the relevant post! Thanks.


Always asking.
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LuckyR
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Re: What is the ethical implication of using religion to reduce crime.

Post by LuckyR »

Alwaysasking wrote: July 19th, 2018, 1:58 pm Context: Prison environment in countries with high gang violence. Let's say El Salvador.

Question 1: I want to learn more about the ethical implication of using religion to reduce numbers of gang members going back to gang lifestyle once they have served their time. In some cases, prisoners are enticed to adopt the religion by being offered a better cell environment and how is this ethical?

Question 2: From the perspective of the gang members/prisoners, they may not necessarily be offered many choices of religion, so how is this ethical by only offering one religious option?

I am open to people having other thoughts of the same topic too. I do apologise if this topic has already been covered and if so, please direct me to the relevant post! Thanks.


Always asking.
The above would be perfectly ethical in countries with state religions. Barring that, #1 could be ethical and #2 would not be.
"As usual... it depends."
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Re: What is the ethical implication of using religion to reduce crime.

Post by Spectrum »

There are pros and cons from religions.

It is a question of optimality.
If the use of religions in prison has more pros than cons, then it is acceptable to use religion [even on a white lie basis] to influence prisoners to be better humans.

Point to note is prisoners come in a range of psychological, spiritual, religious profiles.
Thus there should be a range of religions to match the range of religious profiles.

It is not ethical to use material rewards to convert anyone to a religion. The decision to opt for any religion should be psychological well being for the individual.

It is also not ethical and it would not be effective if only one religion is offered given the range of religious inclinations of the prisoners. However, whatever the religion, it should not have evil elements within its holy texts.

Given the majority of prisoners are not well educated and socially inapt [gang members and the likes], the best approach is to use the threat of burning in Hell if they do good and will be well rewarded if they do good consistently. In this case Christianity is the most effective option.

Islam should be banned in all prisons as Islam is inherently evil and will do more harm than good to any society.
Not-a-theist. Religion is a critical necessity for humanity now, but not the FUTURE.
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Re: What is the ethical implication of using religion to reduce crime.

Post by Count Lucanor »

Alwaysasking wrote: July 19th, 2018, 1:58 pm Context: Prison environment in countries with high gang violence. Let's say El Salvador.

Question 1: I want to learn more about the ethical implication of using religion to reduce numbers of gang members going back to gang lifestyle once they have served their time. In some cases, prisoners are enticed to adopt the religion by being offered a better cell environment and how is this ethical?

Question 2: From the perspective of the gang members/prisoners, they may not necessarily be offered many choices of religion, so how is this ethical by only offering one religious option?

I am open to people having other thoughts of the same topic too. I do apologise if this topic has already been covered and if so, please direct me to the relevant post! Thanks.


Always asking.
Assuming it were practical and effective, it would be ethical to offer it as an option, among many others, without the state privileging the religious option, and even worse, a particular religion. The problem is: its practicality and effectiveness is debatable.
The wise are instructed by reason, average minds by experience, the stupid by necessity and the brute by instinct.
― Marcus Tullius Cicero
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Re: What is the ethical implication of using religion to reduce crime.

Post by Alias »

Catholic gangs, Protestant Gangs, Muslim gangs, Jewish gangs, Sikh gangs.... In what way are they better than secular gangs?
Those who can induce you to believe absurdities can induce you to commit atrocities. - Voltaire
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Re: What is the ethical implication of using religion to reduce crime.

Post by Thinking critical »

Alwaysasking wrote: July 19th, 2018, 1:58 pm Context: Prison environment in countries with high gang violence. Let's say El Salvador.

Question 1: I want to learn more about the ethical implication of using religion to reduce numbers of gang members going back to gang lifestyle once they have served their time. In some cases, prisoners are enticed to adopt the religion by being offered a better cell environment and how is this ethical?
Regardless of wether or not one thinks it is an ethical practice or not, the fact is attempting to use religion as a rehabilitation method for hardened criminals is pointless. It's a bandaid fix for problem much deeper than what religion can resolve.
Asking some god for forgiveness is simply asking yourself to forgive give yourself in order to relinquish the guilt you feel for killing or raping someone (and so fourth). The problem is that when inmates go down this path, religion simply gives them one mechanism to justify their actions and another one to to eliminate the guilt with out every facing the reality of their actions.
This cocky little cognitive contortionist will straighten you right out
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