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Practitioners of the so-called fringe religions (i.e. Wicca) have long since had to fight to be permitted to worship as they see fit. Yet now the Christian religion (considered one of the "Big 3") has also been severely curtailed in the case of the Rhode Island inmate who was forbidden from preaching after having done so for seven years. BellaOnline ALERT: Raw URLs are not allowed in these forums for security reasons. Please use UBB code. If you don't know how to do UBB code just post here for help - we will help out!

Yes, they should have. However, one can practice and pursue one's faith without preaching. Considering that he is in prison, giving him the opportunity to preach is potentially dangerous. The new warden is only trying to do his job of running the prison in the best way possible.

I wish the same could apply outside of prison, too...When you see the news and other transmissions, on religious fundamentalists and extremists, all preaching their own versions of "We're Right and you're Wrong and you'll burn in hell or die by the sword"...I delight in just how well they are spreading the Message of Love....! Give me imposed silence any time! Good on the Governor!

I find it interesting that you immediately speak of religious fundamentalists. You must have really gotten burnt by some of them. There are a wide variety of religious folks out there who truly do spread the love their religion demands, and who try their level best to live in harmony with those who do not believe as they do. Giving them the benefit of the doubt appears to be the least hateful way to traverse, IMO.

Hmm...I partially disagree. In Christianity, preaching is an acceptable form of worship and for those who receive the call, it would be considered sinful not to answer to their deity. Yet at the same time, the governor makes a good point.

If anyone who got the call to preach would stand up and do so, pandemonium would ensue. Thus, is it acceptable to curtail religious expression in jail? Will this also apply to the lack of religious expression.

For example, what if the next governor decides that all the inmates would be doing better if they joined a religion, should s/he have the same power to order participation in a religion as s/he now has to order a lack of complete participation?

Burned would be an understatement...I think frazzled at the stake would be a more appropriate term!
But you're right of course...There are some wonderfully religious and spiritual people out there who truly embody the essence of what they practise. And in fact, their Love and generosity is more evident in how they live their lives, than in what they say.

I have never thought that preaching, for someone, was a manifestation of how they worship. I have always seen the two as quite apart, and a separate issue, because unfortunately, the extreme fundamentalists, who have gone at me hammer and tongs, have not always been very good representatives of the Love and Compassion they claim to spread - let's just say that they didn't practise what they preached!
I am always prepared to give anyone the benefit of the doubt - as long as they give me the benefit of MY doubt!

LOL...practicing what they preach is always a good idea for anyone who opens their mouth wide for the Lord or any other deity. But you are right, those who truly practice their religion speak much louder by the way they live than by what they proclaim from the street corner. Interestingly, the Bible mentions this as well. Seriously though, I am sorry to hear that alleged/misguided Christians have given the faith a bad name by the way they treated you.

As to preaching as part of worship, there are some denominations within the Christian faith where this is indeed considered worship, and I tried to keep my question broad to include all faiths/dnominations - even those that might be considered more toward the fringes of the mainstream.

The Society of Friends (Quakers) also have this a part of their worship. The Spirit of God can move anyone at anytime to stand and preach.