Since before memory, religion has manifested in cultures around the
world. Even with the contemporary debate about just what is meant by
faith, spirituality and religion, our society continues to perceive their
value. Rising secularization, coincident with dropping congregational
affiliation, further confuses consideration of why religion continues to
play a significant role. Nevertheless, the health profession, social agencies,
and governmental bodies all continue to turn to religion to do its
part in the work of their respective fields.
Winder has admirably taken on the difficult topic of the intersection
of religion and sexual crime, assembling a collection which addresses
far-ranging issues, from the sectarian history of prison chaplaincy,
to the impact of religion on rehabilitation, models of intervention,
the spiritual anxiety experienced by survivors of sexual crime, and the
proper role of religion in the Criminal Justice System. Most notable are
the chapters about two of the most contentious problems of our time.
One of these is the continuing drama of exposure of sexual abuse by
religious perpetrators. The other problem is how to accommodate a
faith, like Islam, which has been used by extremists to recruit within
correctional institutions.