A Christian/Muslim dialogue in prison: Praxis of faith for survival and liberation

Interfaith dialogue has always been an interest of the writer and particularly in the context of prisons. The influx of immigration has occurred in recent years of persons who worship God differently from our founding fathers, which has particularly affected minority communities. When minorities from a Christian heritage background become enthralled in the criminal justice system, there is a tendency to convert to Islam.; As a Christian pastor in the African Methodist Episcopal Zion church and a Protestant Chaplain in the New York State Department of Correctional Services, the question was raised what is Islam offering those who are incarcerated that the Christian church in general and the Black church in particular are not offering? What has been the process of transformation to either belief system once incarcerated? Is Islam a more viable belief system and way of life while confined? The concluding analogy though difficult to assess, is how many persons in prison maintain their religious practice upon release?; At the present time there are more persons in American prisons than any other civilized nation on earth. Black Americans are only approximately twelve percent of the nation's population, yet they make up fifty percent of the prison population across the land. Sixty-six percent or two out of three persons released from jail return. Those persons in prison have to have more control over their destiny through the process of spiritual transformation.; If one contends that the three major Western religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam, all have roots in the dark continent of Africa, then the Abrahamic faith as 'people of the book' should be more in dialogue rather than in conflict, especially amongst oppressed persons in prison. It was decided that a form of study could be centered on the sharing of testimonies or spiritual journeys by each prisoner. For twelve weeks 20 African-American men, 10 Christians and 10 Muslims poured their hearts out in the process of sharing with each other who they were, not only as individuals but also as persons of faith amongst a community of believers.; At this point and time in the history of the African American experience and in light of the survival and liberation traditions of black religion discussed in class, Islam has better served incarcerated persons than the Black church. The reasons are: (1) Islam has been more visibly available both inside and outside the prison. (2) Islam provides protection and community life. (3) Islam serves as a counter culture to the regimentation of institutionalization and provides a survival mode for the incarcerated not readily recognized within the Christianity of the black church.