Episode 440 - Mark James Edwards: Prison as Sacrament

Crackers and Grape Juice

In this conversation, Mark Edwards discusses the concept of prison as a sacrament of freedom. He highlights the global problem of mass incarceration and the need for prison abolition. Edwards explores the theology of Karl Barth and his prison sermons, which offer a unique perspective on the nature of prison. He also delves into the definition of sacrament and expands it beyond traditional notions. Edwards examines the role of proclamation in the sacrament of prison and its connection to the biblical narrative and the civil rights movement. This conversation explores the themes of prison ministry, the transformative power of imprisonment, and the role of protest and reform in carceral conditions. The chapters cover topics such as the first Christian community in prison, the reconciliation and liberation found in Christ's imprisonment, the truth about ourselves revealed in prison, and the presence of Christ in prison. The conversation also delves into the humanitarian concerns of prisons, the church as an imprisoned body, and the theological understanding of imprisonment as a sacrament. The chapters conclude with a discussion on protest and imprisonment in the context of Bonhoeffer's theology and the sacrament of imprisonment as a means of freedom.