Exploring Religious Transformation and Educational Opportunities in Carceral Spaces: A Phenomenological Study of Helen Prejean’s Dead Man Walking

Abstract

The study aims to provide a thorough examination of how the movie "Dead Man Walking" portrays religious transformation and educational opportunities to fully comprehend the complex issues regarding embodied religion and redemption within carceral spaces. Dead Man Walking is based on a true story of Sister Helen Prejean as she visits a death row inmate. Her interaction with the inmate would be a helpful basis for a significant study that exemplifies transformative process inside the correction facility. The themes drawn from the narrative will be used to navigate and offer insights on the complexity of moral understanding and possibility of moral and spiritual development in carceral areas. Drawing upon John Hick’s ethical framework as a guiding lens, the research endeavors to explore the complex relationships that exist between spirituality, moral growth, and the need for redemption among Person Deprived of Liberty. Hick’s philosophy clearly emphasizes the value of intellectual and spiritual development in reaching one's full potential and obtaining a feeling of dignity. For Hick, learning is a transformative process that goes beyond mere acquisition of knowledge. Hence, genuine education entails the growth of a person's moral principles, spiritual awareness, and mental abilities. The study also intends to provide a fuller understanding of how religion, ethics, and incarceration overlap and influence people's experiences with the criminal justice system. Such analysis on the portrayal of religion, atonement, and educational opportunities is expected to provide relevant contribution not only in management of carceral spaces but also in the aspect of human development.