The death penalty, in some form, has been around for centuries in Western society. Even as method... more The death penalty, in some form, has been around for centuries in Western society. Even as methods and numbers have changed recently, the death penalty is a fixture in the American penal system. It is also a controversial topic among Christians who claim their arguments are supported biblically. Evangelicals have long held the notion they are “pro-life,” but in most cases still support the death penalty. This article is a challenge to consider the dynamics of the death penalty to understand the inconsistency with a pro-life viewpoint. Evangelicals need to consider the value of life at all phases to have a coherent worldview.
New Orleans experienced elevated rates of violent crime throughout the 30 years between 1985 and ... more New Orleans experienced elevated rates of violent crime throughout the 30 years between 1985 and 2015. Violence was disproportionately represented in socioeconomically disadvantaged communities. This study explores the lived experiences of residents from one such neighborhood, using individual interviews, focus groups and participant observation. The data indicate that neighborhood boundaries vacillated between rigidly defensive and porous, which impacted residents' ability to enact collective efficacy and thus to create a milieu that either positively or negatively influenced the likelihood of violence. With a long history of institutional and social neglect, the community initially viewed outsiders as invaders which resulted in rigidly defended boundaries. As the community emerged from social marginalization and was able to enact collective efficacy, its boundaries became more porous and resources flowed into the community. As a result, violence decreased, further enhancing collective efficacy and boundary porosity in a virtuous cycle. This suggests that crime prevention and response models which engage residents and decrease marginalization may decrease cynicism, open boundaries, and improve collective efficacy, thereby reducing neighborhood violence.
The start of the early Christian church is recounted in the book of Acts. In Acts 2 (NKJV), the a... more The start of the early Christian church is recounted in the book of Acts. In Acts 2 (NKJV), the author shares that after the outpouring of the Spirit of God, over 3,000 believers gather themselves together, where they held "everything in common," shared their resources, and that each person' s needs were met (Acts 2:41-45, The Message). The following article takes a bird's eye view that assists us, as social workers, in understanding the importance of community practice. Community calls us to a sense of belonging and inclusion with a group of people. Community also calls us to consider again our shared values and resources. This article grounds us in the Biblical narrative, moves to our social work skills and knowledge base, and then concludes with thoughts that encourage us to address the "wicked problems" by being disruptive forces in the planned change process which is at the heart of community practice.
The death penalty, in some form, has been around for centuries in Western society. Even as method... more The death penalty, in some form, has been around for centuries in Western society. Even as methods and numbers have changed recently, the death penalty is a fixture in the American penal system. It is also a controversial topic among Christians who claim their arguments are supported biblically. Evangelicals have long held the notion they are “pro-life,” but in most cases still support the death penalty. This article is a challenge to consider the dynamics of the death penalty to understand the inconsistency with a pro-life viewpoint. Evangelicals need to consider the value of life at all phases to have a coherent worldview.
New Orleans experienced elevated rates of violent crime throughout the 30 years between 1985 and ... more New Orleans experienced elevated rates of violent crime throughout the 30 years between 1985 and 2015. Violence was disproportionately represented in socioeconomically disadvantaged communities. This study explores the lived experiences of residents from one such neighborhood, using individual interviews, focus groups and participant observation. The data indicate that neighborhood boundaries vacillated between rigidly defensive and porous, which impacted residents' ability to enact collective efficacy and thus to create a milieu that either positively or negatively influenced the likelihood of violence. With a long history of institutional and social neglect, the community initially viewed outsiders as invaders which resulted in rigidly defended boundaries. As the community emerged from social marginalization and was able to enact collective efficacy, its boundaries became more porous and resources flowed into the community. As a result, violence decreased, further enhancing collective efficacy and boundary porosity in a virtuous cycle. This suggests that crime prevention and response models which engage residents and decrease marginalization may decrease cynicism, open boundaries, and improve collective efficacy, thereby reducing neighborhood violence.
The start of the early Christian church is recounted in the book of Acts. In Acts 2 (NKJV), the a... more The start of the early Christian church is recounted in the book of Acts. In Acts 2 (NKJV), the author shares that after the outpouring of the Spirit of God, over 3,000 believers gather themselves together, where they held "everything in common," shared their resources, and that each person' s needs were met (Acts 2:41-45, The Message). The following article takes a bird's eye view that assists us, as social workers, in understanding the importance of community practice. Community calls us to a sense of belonging and inclusion with a group of people. Community also calls us to consider again our shared values and resources. This article grounds us in the Biblical narrative, moves to our social work skills and knowledge base, and then concludes with thoughts that encourage us to address the "wicked problems" by being disruptive forces in the planned change process which is at the heart of community practice.
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