The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Punishment

“A remarkable work that addresses the root causes of our inability as a nation to break the cycle of violence, punishment, and inhumanity undergirding our present criminal justice system. Coupling theological acumen with personal experience, Snyder not only offers insight into the constitutive nature of restorative justice but also shows how much we are in need of God's liberating grace in challenging an individualistic and market-oriented approach to criminal justice. At the heart of this work is a call for members of the Christian community to examine how their theological assumptions contribute to a punitive and vindictive criminal justice system that strives for retribution rather than rehabilitation and healing for offenders, victims, and communities. Finally, in giving voice to those whom we have incarcerated, torn from their families, and deemed unworthy to live among us, Snyder reminds us of Jesus' judgment on us for how we treat those whom we label as 'criminals.'”

Robert H. Craig

“Snyder has fashioned a masterful study out of his theological wisdom and his work in prison ministry. The contemporary scene of crime and punishment is illumined by Weber's analysis. A breakthrough text!”

Kenneth Vaux

“In this book Richard Snyder presents a critical analysis of the spirit of punishment in our culture and how it is nurtured by the Protestant ethic. He also describes several models of justice that strive to effect genuine reconciliation between the victims and perpetrators of crime as well as their respective families and society at large. All who read this book will be challenged to rethink their assumptions about our current forms of punishment. They will also be persuaded to seek a better way.”

Peter J. Paris

“This book is not only an expos? of the negative ways Protestant theology and ethics have distorted society's treatment of offenders, but it also offers theological and practical paths to the work of restorative justice that lies at the heart of the gospel and the church's proper mission. A must-read for pastors, chaplains, theological educators, and all those who know something to be terribly wrong with our present system of incarceration, retribution, and execution.”

William Johnson Everett