Robert H. Craig

The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Punishment

Ethics, Culture & Social Issues

“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.'”