Denmark: Christianity and Islam in Prisons – A Case of Secular Professionalisation of Chaplaincy
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Denmark: Christianity and Islam in Prisons – A Case of Secular Professionalisation of Chaplaincy. / Christensen, Henrik Reintoft; Kühle, Lene ; Vinding, Niels Valdemar.
Religion and Prison: An Overview of Contemporary Europe. ed. / Julia Martínez-Ariño; Anne-Laure Zwilling. Vol. 7 Springer, 2020. p. 113-134.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Book chapter › Research › peer-review
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TY - CHAP
T1 - Denmark: Christianity and Islam in Prisons – A Case of Secular Professionalisation of Chaplaincy
AU - Christensen, Henrik Reintoft
AU - Kühle, Lene
AU - Vinding, Niels Valdemar
PY - 2020/10/1
Y1 - 2020/10/1
N2 - This chapter presents the historical background and current organisation of religion in the Danish penitentiary system from a legal and sociological perspective. The role and presence of religion in prison were not much discussed until 2006, when the Prison and Probation Service published its first report on religion in prisons. Nevertheless, the Lutheran prison chaplain has been a natural part of the Danish prison system since the establishment of the modern prison in the nineteenth century. Following this historical background, the regulation of religion in prison is presented to show the national and international legal framework regulating the work of chaplains and religious practices of inmates. The Prison and Probation Service produces much information and many statistics on prison life, but not related to religion. The final section presents empirical studies of religion among inmates, showing, for instance, that the proportion of Muslim inmates was the same in 2006 and 2017. Although the proportion was around 20% there are very few Muslim chaplains in prison, and they are a relatively recent addition to Lutheran chaplains from the majority church. The last section examines the majority church chaplains, and shows that they take it upon themselves to cater to the needs of all inmates. Although imams remain contested in the wider society, The Prison and Probation Service welcomes Muslim Chaplaincy (after thorough vetting) because they can oppose potential radicalisation and provide pastoral care to the inmates.
AB - This chapter presents the historical background and current organisation of religion in the Danish penitentiary system from a legal and sociological perspective. The role and presence of religion in prison were not much discussed until 2006, when the Prison and Probation Service published its first report on religion in prisons. Nevertheless, the Lutheran prison chaplain has been a natural part of the Danish prison system since the establishment of the modern prison in the nineteenth century. Following this historical background, the regulation of religion in prison is presented to show the national and international legal framework regulating the work of chaplains and religious practices of inmates. The Prison and Probation Service produces much information and many statistics on prison life, but not related to religion. The final section presents empirical studies of religion among inmates, showing, for instance, that the proportion of Muslim inmates was the same in 2006 and 2017. Although the proportion was around 20% there are very few Muslim chaplains in prison, and they are a relatively recent addition to Lutheran chaplains from the majority church. The last section examines the majority church chaplains, and shows that they take it upon themselves to cater to the needs of all inmates. Although imams remain contested in the wider society, The Prison and Probation Service welcomes Muslim Chaplaincy (after thorough vetting) because they can oppose potential radicalisation and provide pastoral care to the inmates.
U2 - 10.1007/978-3-030-36834-0_8
DO - 10.1007/978-3-030-36834-0_8
M3 - Book chapter
SN - 9783030368333
VL - 7
SP - 113
EP - 134
BT - Religion and Prison
A2 - Martínez-Ariño, Julia
A2 - Zwilling, Anne-Laure
PB - Springer
ER -
ID: 254683984