In 1997, at the age of eighteen, I was sentenced to nineteen years in prison for murder. Immediately family, friends, chaplains, and fellow prisoners told me that God had put me here for a reason, that I was a part of His plan, and of course, that forgiveness could be found through Him. I was even convinced that God wanted me in prison, that I was meant to be here.
The I started to ask questions. If I was meant to be here, that means my victim was meant to be murdered. How is that fair to him? Do religious authorities comfort his family by telling them that God had a plan for someone to murder their loved one? If God gave me free will to commit that crime, why did my free will trump my victim’s free will to live? Why do I deserve to be forgiven at all? Why should I regard the Bible as any kind of moral authority anyway? I don’t want to be told that a benevolent God’s plan for me was to take someone’s life in a petty robbery. I don’t want to be told that I shouldn’t kill because hell is the consequence. I definitely don’t want to be told that I should follow a righteous path because heaven is the reward.
Through an ongoing path of repentance and personal growth, I’ve come to the realization that biblical morality is an oxymoron because biblical morality is coerced morality. Prisoners already know the difference between right and wrong; what we need is to be taught why it is right to do certain things and wrong to do others. Give a prisoner the tool of reason, and he can’t help but recognize the rights of his victims, whether past or potential. He can’t help but understand that no one deserves to be a victim.
I am posting as an outlet and as a response to the constant expectation that I must ascribe to the sacred text of an arbitrary religion to have any sort of morality. As a prisoner, I’m also posting through a second party since I can only respond with ordinary mail, so there may be delays before I receive or reply. In any case, correspondence might be easier at my mailing address:
Dan Turner 767569
Clallam Bay Correction Center
1830 Eagle Crest Way
Clallam Bay, WA 98326
VERY interesting. I wonder if you have a chance for parole later. I would like to know why you murdered this person. Anyways, keep posting it is very intriguing.
Comment by Raskolnikov — March 17, 2008 @ 7:18 pm |
I have read this entire blog, yes I have qeustions and (opinions to be debated). The obvious qeustion is WHY? Write (with your talent) WHY!
Comment by dturner — April 12, 2008 @ 12:47 pm |
Wow. My general stereotype was that most people actually FIND religion in prison as opposed to develop a skeptical worldview, especially towards a supreme deity. I’d be interested to know whether you’re a general exception or if you find your situation common.
Comment by astrostu206265 — December 21, 2008 @ 7:50 pm |
i’d like to feature this blog on my blog as the “star of the month” for march. although i am not nearly as skilled at manifesting my opinions as you mr. turner i appreciate the well crafted view points presented in each post i’ve read thus far.
i haven’t had a chance to read through every post as i’ve just recently discovered this blog but none the less i am completely intrigued. i wanted to ask permission before i just linked up.
and to the sister maintaing this blog as well as a myspace page, cheers to you, from one prison sister to another. i’ve been there before and i know all too well the duties that come along with the title.
Comment by ash — February 26, 2009 @ 8:49 pm |