Buddhism is the fastest-growing religion in England's jails, with the low number of prison-convert followers rising eightfold over the past decade.
Martin Beckford, Religious Affairs Correspondent (Aug. 5, 2009)
Adherents to the Eastern faith believe in peace and the sanctity of life, which is an excellent turnaround since almost all of the converts to Buddhism that are behind bars in this country are serving lengthy sentences for serious crimes such as violence and sex offenses. Some jails and secure hospitals including Broadmoor have opened shrines known as Buddha Groves on their grounds, and there is a national network of chaplains to cater to the growing population.
Supporters of newly Buddhist prisoners say they also believe the spiritual development they gain in prison will help them once they are released, and prevent them from re-offending. Lord Avebury, a Liberal Democrat peer who is the patron of Angulimala, the Buddhist Prison Chaplaincy Organization, told The Daily Telegraph: "The numbers are quite remarkable. I think one of the reasons is that they convert to Buddhism in prison – it's a reasonable hypothesis that they become interested when inside.
"I think it does enable people to come to terms with their situation. Buddhism gets people away from the idea of material ambitions, and if people are in prison they can't go for those goals anyway. You do have more time to reflect and meditate in jail, and get away from the idea of self."
He went on: "My inclination would be to say it must help people after they leave jail. The whole idea of Buddhism is not to cause harm to anybody, and the person who persists in their faith is likely to be totally recast in their life and must be less likely to re-offend." Lord Avebury said the care offered by the network of Buddhist prison chaplains, who are supported by the Prison Service, would also have encouraged many prisoners to convert, in addition to the existence of shrines in the jail grounds.
"We have an annual celebration at Spring Hill [an open prison in Buckinghamshire where the first Buddha Grove was built]. That's a remarkable place, it's extremely peaceful. Staff go there to meditate as well as prisoners."
Official figures show Britain's 149,157 Buddhists – who believe in gaining spiritual knowledge about the true nature of life and do not worship gods – make up just 0.26 of the general population. In 1997 there were only 226 Buddhists in prisons in England and Wales, but by the end of June 2008 that figure had risen by 669 per cent to reach 1,737 – 2 percent of the 79,734 prison population.
The vast majority (1,194) were White and most were over 30. Only 78 were female.
Detailed statistics published by the Ministry of Justice show that almost all were serving long sentences. In total, 621 were serving terms of four years or more, while a further 521 had been given indeterminate sentences.
The rate of growth of new converts to Buddhism in the jail population outstrips that of converts to Islam:
- Muslim numbers have more than doubled from 3,681 to 9,795 over the past 11 years.
- Christians remain the best-represented group behind bars, with 41,839 worshippers.
- Agnostic (unsure) and those declaring Atheism (no religion) now stand at 27,710.
- Atheists make up 1 percent of the prison population for the first time this year, with only 570 declared adherents to the view that there is definitely no God.
- Jewish, or those who claim it, amount to just 220 prisoners – fewer than
- Pagans, 366
- Rastafarians, 340
- Jehovah's Witnesses, 230
- Salvation Army had only 37 members in jail.
A Prison Service spokesman said: "The Prison Service recognizes the positive role faith can play in the lives and rehabilitation of prisoners and is committed to enabling prisoners of all faiths to practice their religion. "Each prison has a multi-faith chaplaincy team to meet the religious and pastoral needs of prisoners and staff. Teams include chaplains and volunteers from a wide range of religions and denominations."
Population in English and Welsh prisons by religion in June 2008
- No religion 26,626
- Church of England 23,039
- Roman Catholic 14,296
- Muslim 9,795
- Buddhist 1,737
- Sikh 648
- Atheist 570
- Agnostic 514
- Hindu 434
- Pagan 366
- Rastafarian 340
- Jehovah's Witness 230
- Jewish 220
- Scientology 3
Source: Ministry of Justice
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