Tanya Erzen

This book was written just a few years before Exodus International ceased as an organization. The ex-gay program studied by the author, for her PhD degree, was the New Hope Ministry in Marin County, California. It was affiliated with Exodus International. From her study of this program, and from the many interviews with the leaders and participants in the program, it became clear to her that ex-gays do not ever really lose their same-sex attraction, and seem unable to ever develop an opposite-sex attraction. Nevertheless, the men in the program persisted in trying to subvert their same-sex attraction, and at least live a celibate life.

Considering the many struggles these men went through, it concerns me that such ministries persist in holding out some degree of hope for changing gays so they are no longer attracted to individuals of their own sex. The high attrition rate of such programs and the many participants who later return to same-sex dating and even marriage shows how change is not really possible. Someone who is gay seems to be that way inherently. How much better it would be if gays could accept themselves for who they are, and learn that God accepts them as well. Oh that the church would see same-sex marriage as a good thing.… (altro)

Tanya Erzen has written a thought provoking book. I was challenged to think philosophically - and Biblically - through several of the issues she addressed.

The purpose of the book is probably best understood by her concluding quotation of the question in the epilogue "Are you giving people the help they need or the help you think they need?" She applies this question to faith-based ministries, to the government, the prisons, and to society in general.

I think it is important to note that Ms. Erzen does not claim to be a Christian. In the book, responding to a question from a prisoner, she acknowledged that she is probably an agnostic, but admitted to an interest in both Quakerism and Buddhism because of their non-violent convictions. Despite not being a Christian, she still seemed to treat Christianity respectfully. However, I don't think she fully understands Christianity and so she seems to have inaccurate assumptions and expectations of Christianity. This is an observation, not a criticism.

There are several thoughts which have been spawned as a result of reading the book, some where explicit from the book and others where "rabbit trails" in my own mind.

1) Is it a violation of the establishment clause for states/prisons to not only allow faith-based ministries to use their resources, but also to intentionally or incidentally incentivize prisoners to confess or convert to Christianity?

2) Is it a violation of the free exercise clause for other religions to not receive the same financial or facility preferences as Protestant Christianity in the prisons?

3) There is a possibility of false conversions to Christianity because of the benefits of adopting Christianity while in prison. Ms. Erzen seems to think of this as coercive, but that word implies intent. I think that those laboring in prison ministries do not view their work as coercive. Regardless of motive, I too fear that there would be many false conversions.

4) Ms. Erzen referred to the goals of evangelical Christianity in several different ways, but primarily in relationship to the saving of souls. I don't think she was setting up straw-men, but I do think there were generalizations. The evangelical Christianity and Baptists which she described, I recognize and have seen before, but it is not the kind of evangelical Christianity to which I adhere. So, when she would describe what faith-based ministries where trying to accomplish in prisons, I felt a bit of frustration because those ministries are not representative of all of evangelical Christianity.

5) Are prisoners basically good but corrupted and therefore in need of mercy and rehabilitation? Are prisoners bad and deserving of punishment? The conflict is mentioned in the book.

6) There is an insoluble tension regarding the intersection of faith-based ministries and the state penal system. The church and the government are two different entities with two different purposes. When they try to work in concert with each other there will be conflict. Which entity is superior?

7) There is also a conundrum in the church - which Ms. Erzen recognizes, should the church work towards meeting spiritual needs or physical needs.

Conclusion: This book doesn't have the answers, but it instigates a lot of good questions and suggests movement towards solutions.

I would recommend the book to any Christian involved in a prison ministry. They may not like or agree with everything that is written in the book, but Ms. Erzen is not hateful or combative and would provide an invaluable perspective to them.

I would recommend this book to someone studying the church/state union. Whether from a Biblical point of view or a sociological point of view, the scenarios in this book would offer much for consideration.

It was a book which challenged my thinking, and for that I'm very appreciative.… (altro)

I was not expecting to like this book as much as I did. I thought it would be a rather dry discussion on the topic of proselytizing in prison, causing me to scowl and shake my head in disgust now and then. I was not prepared to weep, to become dejected, to feel emotional/spiritual pain. This is excellent writing, and I'll be looking for more from this author. The juxtaposition of hope and hopelessness was exquisite and was what affected me most. Erzen has a remarkable way of writing that takes you down an uplifting path only to, without any hint that it's coming, send you plummeting into an abyss of despair. Has she written any novels?? She should. They would be amazing.

This work taught me about the history of the prison system in America, of which I knew nothing. Fascinating. Each chapter was like a separate essay on a clear-cut topic, with the occasional reference back to a previous chapter. Not at all "dry and academic," but thoroughly professional and profound, the author lets the inmates, ministers, wardens, and law-makers speak for themselves, which is where the heart of the work comes from. She intersperses the dialogue with her own observations and facts but does so in a seamless way. The words flow and sentences/ paragraphs/ pages blend so smoothly, it's more a work of art, a painting, than a research project.

This work will haunt me for a long time. It will affect how I vote, how I discuss crime and punishment, how I think of criminals and those who have spent time inside. Seriously that good.… (altro)