Well, this is interesting. According to this CNN article, an Alabama town is giving people convicted of misdemeanors an option to “pay their debt to society” by attending church every Sunday for one year.
It’s not exactly going to portend a renaissance of Christian culture, but it might save the municipality some money if they don’t have to house the accused in jail.
They should give other options as well, such as being put in the stocks or being flogged.
And I would change the argument away from money saved to sparing men the cruelty and inhuman punishment of being banished to a steel and concrete box. If we must punish people, do it quick and get it over with, or at least don’t make it a burden to those dependent on them.
Gives new meaning to having a “come to Jesus meeting” – who knows, it might even work better than incarceration.