"The resurrection after the old has gone and the new has come": understanding narratives of forgiveness, redemption and resurrection in Christian individuals serving time in custody for a sexual offence

Blagden, N ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4037-0984, Winder, B ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9118-679X and Lievesley, R ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4957-258X, 2020. "The resurrection after the old has gone and the new has come": understanding narratives of forgiveness, redemption and resurrection in Christian individuals serving time in custody for a sexual offence. Psychology, Crime & Law, 26 (1), pp. 34-52. ISSN 1068-316X

Preview

Text 13492_Blagden.pdf - Post-print Download (282kB) | Preview

Abstract

Research has shown how religion is associated with numerous positive effects including enhanced mood, increased feelings of hope, increased altruistic behaviour, improved ability to cope and also reducing people’s involvement in delinquent and criminal behaviour. However, this has also been contested with some arguing that religion can have criminogenic effects. Whilst there is a growing body of research concerning the effect (criminogenic or positive) of religion on offending, there is currently a paucity of research focusing on sexual offending and religion. The aim of this study was to explore and understand the effects that religious beliefs have on individuals with sexual convictions’ sense of self, identity, their thoughts about the future and on their daily lives in prison. The results focus on a centrally important superordinate theme related to forgiveness and redemption. The analysis unpacks participants’ narratives of forgiveness and the impact such narratives have on participants. A key finding from the data in this study was that religious beliefs and being forgiven by a higher power appeared to facilitate redemptive selves and the enacting of these selves. Implications for practice and limitations are discussed.

Item Type:	Journal article
Publication Title:	Psychology, Crime & Law
Creators:	Blagden, N., Winder, B. and Lievesley, R.
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Date:	2020
Volume:	26
Number:	1
ISSN:	1068-316X
Identifiers:	Number Type 10.1080/1068316X.2019.1634194 DOI
Divisions:	Schools > School of Social Sciences
Record created by:	Jill Tomkinson
Date Added:	05 Mar 2019 15:04
Last Modified:	26 Aug 2022 09:38
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/35895

Actions (login required)

Edit View

Statistics

Views

Downloads