“Measuring Salvation in Chains and Corpses” - Andrew Krinks on the Religious Function of Mass Criminalization
Jan 22, 2025
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Andrew Krinks, author of "White Property, Black Trespass," explores the intersection of race, capitalism, and religion. He discusses how policing functions as a religious institution, emphasizing concepts of redemption and labor discipline. Krinks argues that the dehumanization seen in prisons is a core aspect of their purpose, deeply entwined with religious ideologies. He critiques societal narratives that treat policing as divine, particularly after George Floyd's death, and advocates for alternative spiritual practices that promote liberation from mass incarceration.
The podcast argues that policing in Christian societies serves a religious function, intertwining societal order with theological concepts of redemption and discipline.
It discusses how the prison system perpetuates labor discipline and is designed to dehumanize inmates as a means of enforcing compliance within capitalist frameworks.
The conversation explores the potential for abolitionist thought to align with spiritual principles, advocating for transformative practices that foster justice without reliance on punitive institutions.
Deep dives
Religious Functions of Police in Society
The podcast discusses the role that police play as a religious institution within Christian societies, particularly in the U.S. This connection is drawn through theological concepts of redemption and salvation, proposing that policing embodies a form of religious discipline. By maintaining social order and reinforcing labor discipline, police actions can be viewed as a means of moral correction for those who deviate from societal expectations. This intertwining of religion and law enforcement reveals how policing serves to uphold a divinely ordained structure in which order is prioritized over individual freedom.
Labor Discipline and Penal Systems
The discussion highlights the relationship between prisons and labor discipline, emphasizing that the prison system is designed not only as a corrective institution but also as a mechanism for controlling labor. This concept suggests that the penal system's dehumanization of inmates is a feature, not a bug, aimed at instilling a labor ethic that aligns with capitalist demands. Historical perspectives show that the prison system has evolved from previous punishment mechanisms to enforce compliance with economic structures. By conditioning incarcerated individuals to accept their positions within societal hierarchies, prisons reinforce the need for a submissive labor force.
Dehumanization as a Redemptive Act
The podcast explores the complex notion that dehumanization within prisons is often misconceived as a failure of the system, when it may actually be seen as integral to its redemptive purpose. This perspective posits that the brutality experienced by inmates serves a larger theological narrative of salvation through suffering and submission. Such ideologies are rooted in historical theological interpretations that condone violence as a necessary precursor to transformation. The discussion reveals how this framework continues to justify the harsh realities of the penal system in contemporary contexts.
The Role of Police as Mortal Gods
In examining the concept of police power, the podcast presents the idea that police function as mortal gods, creating and maintaining societal order through their authority. This characterization reflects the theological belief that police are divinely empowered to protect property and uphold societal hierarchies. Through force and control, police interventions are perceived as necessary acts to preserve safety, reinforcing their role as essential to the maintenance of a civilized society. The connection between policing and religious undertones illustrates the depth of societal investment in viewing law enforcement as a sacred institution.
Abolition and Religious Imaginations
The podcast concludes by addressing the potential for abolitionist thought to intersect with religious imaginations, suggesting that alternative visions of justice could emerge from a spiritual framework. This approach encourages individuals to re-envision a world without reliance on police and prisons, emphasizing the need for transformative practices that promote healing and community support. It argues for a reframing of faith not as a tool for oppression but as a source of empowerment and liberation. By engaging with diverse spiritual narratives, it is possible to foster a collective vision that prioritizes justice and fulfillment without the mechanisms of state violence.
Today we explore the religious functions police play for Christian societies, in particular the US, and their relationship to theological concepts of redemption and salvation. We also talk about religious discipline, labor discipline and regimes of prison labor, which is obviously topical with renewed discussions of incarcerated fire fighters with the recent wildfires in Southern California. Krinks also explains why the dehumanization of prisons should not be understood as a violation of their mandate, but a fundamental aspect of it, one that also serves a function within the religious ideologies from which the prison emerges.
Definitely check out part one of this conversation if you missed it and if you are inclined to up a copy of the book, which is a fascinating read, check out our friends at Massive Bookshop who use the proceeds from their book sales to bail people out of jail.
I also just want to plug that we have an ongoing video series on our YouTube channel with Mtume Gant who is a filmmaker, media critic, and professor of film, where we are reading and discussing Cedric Robinson’s book Forgeries of Memory and Meaning. And if you like this conversation I think you’ll find a lot of resonance with those discussions as well as they really go into how and when race-making processes are instrumentalized in the media, using historical examples.
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