I'm Just Sayin'

There are no atheists in foxholes...you know the argument. Everyone really believes in God, but only when they think they are about to meet him soon do they admit it...so the believers say. OR the case may be that they, those in deep shit,  don't really believe, but what the hell...nothing to lose by asking for his help when you are about to die. OR...the notion that everybody who thinks he/she  is about to die turns to God is not true. Probably some do, some don't...right? Some find Him for the first time and some find Him again. Some don't find Him, never knew Him and are not looking for Him...

Know where God gets found more than in a foxhole? Prisons...prisons and jails. Sometimes He gets found even before jail, like when the inevitability of jail time makes itself known to someone standing trial. I never really thought these guys were sincere, these jail house converts. It just seems so absurd. One minute a guy can be a  drugged out, raping, murdering, gang banger, raving maniac and before you can turn around ...bam!...a  Bible hugging, Jesus praising jail house convert...soon to be a jail house preacher.

Shadd Maruna, Louise Wilson and Kathryn Curran have written an article (LEA Online) which draws "on 75 original life story interviews with prisoner converts"  and they have determined that  "the conversion narrative creates a new social identity to replace the label of prisoner or criminal, imbues the experience of imprisonment and meaning, empowers the largely powerless prisoner by turning him into an agent of God, provides the prisoner with a language and framework for forgiveness, and allows a sense of control over an unknown future."  Wow! I guess I never put enough effort into the understanding of this phenomenon. Or maybe I have. I suppose there is some validity to the conclusions these folks have made about the psychology or mindset of prisoners.  But basically,  I'm sticking to my  take on this...my gut instinct. The best way out of prison is to act like you are sorry for what you have done, and throw in some religion for good luck. It can't hurt. 

I swear... I wasn't going to bring up Paris Hilton, but even Paris...Paris found God in jail. Why? Why did she "find" Him there...she wanted out of jail and she wanted to put her brat child, spoiled air brain, slut image behind her,   so she jumped on the God bandwagon.  Mike Vick found God before he even went to prison. Might as well get started...huh Mike?

Before I go...one more thing. What about the preachers who go to prison? They already know God. Seems like those newly acquainted with God have the upper hand here...they shouldn't have already known better.

Just thinkin' out loud...