I'd forgotten about this but back in July there was an article in the Guardian about offenders being offered the chance to join a reading group instead of going to prison. If you remember, there's been another scheme sentencing people to church instead of jail. Personally, I'd prefer the reading group, although my first preference would be to not get in trouble with the law in the first place!
At least encouraging offenders to read gives them the chance to think for themselves, which isn't the point of church.
What do you think?
