The role of religious education in the human development of women deprived of their freedom in a female prison center in Colombia

Abstract

The aim of this article is to analyze the role of religious education in the human development of women deprived of their freedomin a Colombian women's prison center. This qualitative research work is based on grounded theory, in particular on the approaches of Foucault, Goffman and Max-Neef et al. The techniques used were in-depth interview, participant observation, and investigative workshop. The centrality of a religious device was identified as part of the resocialization process. In this institution, religious instruction is promoted based on control and the designs of the educational programs are tinged with a strong religious tradition that promotes submission and obedience as main values within its teaching model, which limits the human development of the women interviewed since it hinders the achievement of their freedom, thus making it impossible for them to achieve their autonomy. However, thanks to the fact that the potential for human development lies in each person, the women participating in the study have managed to turn these limitations and obstacles into opportunities for their personal growth.