It’s ubiquitous in prison. One way I’ve noticed is how religious sevices are treated. If you’re at work, and you have a religious service, it’s an automatic excused absence. Not even questioned. Oh, you’re going to Bible study, or Native American drumming, or Ramadan, or whatever? No problem, […]
I have a cellie who watches these End of Times TV evanglists sometimes, and it’s just amazing to me. Not him in particular, but other Christians I’ve ran into, and the people on these shows, seem actually excited about the destruction of the world and the torment of […]
I’ve been locked up for 18-1/2 years, and I’ll have 19-1/2 in when I’m finally released next year. One thing I’ve often heard is that doing that much time makes you “institutionalized.” See The Shawshank Redemption for a concise description of this condition. I’ve always been skeptical of […]
One of the things I always try to impress upon peope, especially in prison, is that religion and morality are not the same thing. And yet, according to all polls, atheists are still seen as being without morals, as nihilistic even. It’s just nonsense. A cursory look at […]
Another problem I have with guys in here using religion to supposedly better their lives is that they often focus on the wrong things. They debate trivial issues like whether masturbation is okay, as if that is going to make them a better person one way or another. […]
So this county clerk in Kentucky refuses to issue marriage licenses because she (or her god) doesn’t like gay marriage. I agree with her one-hundred percent. After all, she’s just trying to save her eternal soul. She worships a god that’s going to damn her if she attaches […]
Lately I’ve seen this commerical for Fiji bottled water, and their tagline is nature’s most perfect water … because humans haven’t touched it. Right. Do they understand how many people die every year from drinking unsafe water? Are they telling people that they are drinking water right out […]
At the presidential debate, Mike Huckabee said that science had proved that life begins at conception (something about DNA recombining at that point, or something). First of all, the question of when life begins is never going to be “proven” by science; it is a philosophical question, not […]
So Target made a decision to market its toys as gender-neutral. And of course, the conservative Christians are immediately out in force, talking about how theri values are being eroded, America is being destroyed, something like that. Whatever, Target made a business decision, and people can like it […]
So Bernie Sanders is apparently an atheist, which of course I’m all for. I would be amazed and pleased to see an atheist president. He’s also choosing as the centerpiece of his campaign to get rid of the advantages of the wealthy in America and look out for […]
It really says something about Republican voters, that Donald Trump is doing so well in the polls. As wonderful as it may sound to them to have someone who’s “not afraid to speak his mind,” I think that misses the point. When what comes out of your mouth […]
The Bureau of Prisons reports that about 99% of all prisoners in the US claim some sort of religion. I’m in a very tiny minority. But here’s the thing: Religion is EASY in prison. And I think that Christianity in particular has an appeal to prisoners, also, because […]
I don’t hate religion, as many believers seem to think is common among atheists. Or they think that some of us, like me, who were once Christians, were wounded or mistreated in some way, and becoming an atheist is our emotional reaction. This type of attitude reminds me […]
I turned 37 today, and first thing in the morning, I got a happy birthday from someone that I never expected would know or care about it. Normally, I don’t even mention my birthday in this place, because I don’t much like the drama and shit-talk from guys […]
I have met some intelligent guys in here who become obsessed with the idea of the corruption of DOC, the problems in the justice system, and the supposed slavery of the modern prison industrial complex. Now, look, there are problems in the justice system; there are stiffer penalties […]
The romantic myth of how living “naturally” in the past was wonderful is so ubiquitous in America, and that’s not surprising, considering this fantasy is generally common only among rich white people. Try telling a sustinence farmer’s wife in Kenya that it’s better for her to stay in […]
The other day I was criticizing the bad behavior of someone, and a guy I know accused me of “judging,” as in, “who was I to judge anyone, considering that I’m in prison for committing murder?” I’ve thought a lot about this issue, and first, my criticism of […]
Conservatives are so upset about the recent victory for gay marriage, and the way it was celebrated by the president with his colorful display on the White House. They see it as an insult to their belief. Well, check it out: Have you ever considered that maybe your […]
Okay, so maybe the reaction over confederate flags has gotten a bit out of hand. Now politicians are lobbying to remove memorial statues of the Civil War and things like that. But … it’s so ridiculous for conservative Southerners to think that this is somehow “wiping out their […]
At least there is finally going to be some action on the absurdity of the Confederate flag being displayed above the capitol building in South Carolina. Finally. For all those southern conservatives who think your heritage is being attacked, honestly, grow up. You can still fly your symbol […]
So in watching this tragedy of the mass murder in Charleston, the woman who turned in the killer said something along the lines of: “It’s not about me, but God put me there, and had me watch the news, so I could be there to turn him in.” […]
It’s instructive to listen to my peers in here speak glowingly about the two men who escaped from a maximum security prison. I’ve said it before, prisoners needs better heroes. And another thing: I’m so tired of hearing how “love” is used a catch-all excuse for any sort […]
Is anyone else totally head-over-heels excited about the 16 months of American politics for the presidential race? It’s so awesome! Appeals to the “folks” and blidn patriotism! Personal attacks! Anti-science nonsense! Sickening jingoism! Yesterday I head Bobby Jindal knock the metric system because it would make America “more […]
It’s so amusingly tragic to me to hear conservative Christians talk about Caitlin Jenner and say that being transgender is “unnatural” and “against God’s plan” since she was born a man. Okay, do Christians really want to go with the idea that everyone is born exactly the way […]
They ought to be privatized. For the same reason that private schools are better than public ones, private prisons COULD be much better. And by “better,” I mean that they would churn out more reformed and successful inmates. And that’s the key: the States could make a law […]
There’s a focus on religion for moral growth. Every prison has a chapel, religious services, free literature, special diets, events, and all sorts of special concessions for religion. Part of this is because of religious organizations volunteering their time and money, which is fine, and I wish secular […]
The incentives. They don’t really exist. There are three basic custody levels in WA State: closed, medium, and minimum. But they generally just mean the amount of security and control, not privileges or incecntives. I had more privileges at Clallam Bay, a medium and closed facility, then here […]
I talked before about the group punishment in prison. Well, last week was a perfect example of that. Because a handful of individuals were fighting (presumably over gang issues), the entire prison was locked down. For us, this means locked in a cell, missing our jobs, programs, showers, […]
I look around in here and see these young, impressionable kids arrive in prison, and the only people stepping up to pull them in (besides the gangs and other groups) are the religious people. Preaching the word. And so the battle for the (metaphorical) souls of young criminals […]
Group punishment. It’s a given. If some guy takes advantage of an officer’s kindness, we all get punished with stricter rules. If someone skips off to gym early, we all have to wait to go to gym. I once almost went to the Hole (along with a dozen […]
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