On the Resurrection of Casey McWhorter Our criminal justice system doesn’t exist for rehabilitation…it doesn’t even exist for punishment…it exists for one purpose…erasure. When someone goes to prison, the idea is for everyone on the outside to forget that they ever had any relationship at all with the condemned…that they ever even existed. For the most part, the system is very successful. Most people in Alabama couldn’t name anybody on death row. Much less, the next person... Read more
“End” : Systematic Theology from Death Row : (Casey McWhorter & Jeff Hood) Why do we allow our minds to stop? We too often assume that the end is the end. Many assume that death is the end because we dare not imagine any other way. We dare not because we think we are so much more enlightened than everyone else. Heaven and angels sound foolish amid the stark reality of a dead body. Maybe what we’re talking... Read more
“Strength” : Systematic Theology from Death Row : (Casey McWhorter & Jeff Hood) We lose our ability to cope with the world around us when we choose to believe that death has power over us. Strength comes from daring to believe that any end is not an end…but rather a beginning. Death has no power if we dare believe that it doesn’t exist. People can say all day that they are going to kill us…but if one cannot... Read more
Michael Bane: Death Row Feminist Truth. What is it? How does it work? When does it happen? Truth can be so difficult to grasp. Often, we walk through life so skeptical. I know I do. Sometimes it’s necessary. Think about how many times people have lied to you. Then again, think about how many times people have told you the truth. I guess there is something that happens at the juxtaposition of truth and lies…life. So, who... Read more
“Ready” : Systematic Theology from Death Row : Casey McWhorter & Jeff Hood Is it possible that all of life is a preparation for death? Think about it. We are born to die. Even when you look at the smallest baby…you know that death is inevitable. Yet, the baby still represents something so much more than death. The newborn is a revelation…the revelation that life will continue. It’s almost as if one can see eternity in the baby’s eyes. ... Read more
“Simple” : Systematic Theology from Death Row : Casey McWhorter & Jeff Hood) God is simple. We try so hard to make God complicated…but God is Simple…Simply present. God is always about presence. We are never alone. There is always the presence. It is Simple. What makes God’s presence so Simple? It’s the kind word from the most unlikely of spaces. It’s the beautiful birds outside the window. It’s the unexpected joy of a sunset. It’s the... Read more
“Home” – Systematic Theology from Death Row – Casey McWhorter & Jeff Hood Liberation is a return to the place where I am from. I am from Home. I was created at Home. I have always existed close to Home. I shall return Home. Liberation is about returning to where you always knew you would, Home. God is Home. Once you arrive back to that place where you’re from, you’re safe…you can breathe…you’re free…you can simply be. That’s... Read more
“Blank Slate” : Systematic Theology from Death Row : (Casey McWhorter & Jeff Hood) *Casey McWhorter is scheduled for execution on November 16, 2023. Our understanding poisons our mind. We assume that what we can consider is all that must be. Theology exists far beyond the limits that we place on our thoughts. Indeed, theology exists when we allow the borders and boundaries of understanding to explode. There we meet something more than what is. Namely, what... Read more
*Thankful to have been invited to a Friday Prayer Service focusing on Gaza by Muslim friends in Little Rock. While it is true that we approach God in different ways… I think we can agree that it is evil to drop bombs on children. I think we can agree that it is evil to collapse buildings on families. I think we can agree that it is evil to create an open-air torture chamber for millions of people. I... Read more
“There Will Be No Life in Killing Me” : The Casey McWhorter Tapes (6): Scheduled for Execution on November 16, 2023 in Alabama Destruction? Honestly, I’ve been the most successful at destroying myself. There were so many things I could’ve been. I was talented. I had a good personality. There were so many paths. So much potential. So much. I pissed every bit of it away. I repeatedly chose destruction. Sometimes I think that the... Read more
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