Prison and the people incarcerated there elicit a feeling of shame and being an outcast. Prisoners are also considered as condemned persons for being imprisoned. In fact, many people wish they could be tagged or marked on the forehead to prevent them from mingling with normal human beings. This mentality holds until you read through the chapters of Naked as a Jailbird. It gives you a view of prison and life behind bars that you never thought existed.
Richard Shaw writes the book from the perspective of a prison chaplain. His eyes are compassionate as expected, but this is not his motivation to write the book. You will not see him pleading with people to change their ways. He gives a narrative of a reality that people assume exists and will be surprised to realize that there are people living this reality.
It is not lost to Richard Shaw that the society labels these prisoners as criminals, outcasts and person who deliberately got themselves in the mess. It is only when you spend time with them that you realize that there is more to their lives than being criminals. Many people will not believe that some are innocent. Others think that this claim is made to justify incarceration. Richard Shaw has a different story to tell.
And how is prison life? Where is hope while the justice system has condemned you to life in prison? What is the role of religion in such a setting, a religion that preaches on forgiveness and repentance? These are deep philosophical questions that Richard seeks to explore in this book. The answers will surprise you just like some of the cases described in this book.
Prison is a ministry where people will be assigned yet not everyone can manage that. Shaw chose to work in prison because it was a special calling. This experience revealed a world of difference between people who are free and those living behind bars. According to Richard, it takes the grace of God to minister in this environment.
What role do prisons play in the society and is it still relevant today? Are people being changed by being locked up and what activities go on behind bars to facilitate this change? There is a desire to change with most people waking up to this reality immediately they settle in prison. But is there a return door for such people? Surprisingly, prison warders and people who appear to command a lot of respect in this environment are also in a prison of their own.
The choice of the word Naked is deliberate. On entering prison, one has to remove all his or her cloths. This is the nakedness that most people know about prison. The reality is that they are stripped off more than their cloths. Their dignity and idea of humanity changes once they get to prison. Even with a bale of cloths on, the man in prison is always naked.
The book is a quick read that will transform your idea of prison life. It will surprise you that prison warders and other staff could be in greater prisons than the actual prisoners. What about ministering in prison? The answer lies deep in the paragraphs.
Richard Shaw writes the book from the perspective of a prison chaplain. His eyes are compassionate as expected, but this is not his motivation to write the book. You will not see him pleading with people to change their ways. He gives a narrative of a reality that people assume exists and will be surprised to realize that there are people living this reality.
It is not lost to Richard Shaw that the society labels these prisoners as criminals, outcasts and person who deliberately got themselves in the mess. It is only when you spend time with them that you realize that there is more to their lives than being criminals. Many people will not believe that some are innocent. Others think that this claim is made to justify incarceration. Richard Shaw has a different story to tell.
And how is prison life? Where is hope while the justice system has condemned you to life in prison? What is the role of religion in such a setting, a religion that preaches on forgiveness and repentance? These are deep philosophical questions that Richard seeks to explore in this book. The answers will surprise you just like some of the cases described in this book.
Prison is a ministry where people will be assigned yet not everyone can manage that. Shaw chose to work in prison because it was a special calling. This experience revealed a world of difference between people who are free and those living behind bars. According to Richard, it takes the grace of God to minister in this environment.
What role do prisons play in the society and is it still relevant today? Are people being changed by being locked up and what activities go on behind bars to facilitate this change? There is a desire to change with most people waking up to this reality immediately they settle in prison. But is there a return door for such people? Surprisingly, prison warders and people who appear to command a lot of respect in this environment are also in a prison of their own.
The choice of the word Naked is deliberate. On entering prison, one has to remove all his or her cloths. This is the nakedness that most people know about prison. The reality is that they are stripped off more than their cloths. Their dignity and idea of humanity changes once they get to prison. Even with a bale of cloths on, the man in prison is always naked.
The book is a quick read that will transform your idea of prison life. It will surprise you that prison warders and other staff could be in greater prisons than the actual prisoners. What about ministering in prison? The answer lies deep in the paragraphs.
About the Author:
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