'I share your disgust but not your argument, for you seem to make Christianity responsible

When you find the time to share all the wonderful accomplishments of Jamaicans you hinted at you will find Christianity more responsible that any other factor you may come up with.'

..........................

This post consists of my response to one of my email contacts who felt I was putting the blame for our situation on Christianity - which of course I do to an extent considering the gospel the churches proclaim, but I feel we are all to blame in various ways - my generation was too often guilty of not speaking out against things we knew to be wrong, Socialist ideologues betrayed the fundamental bases of their ideology, believers in 'Democracy' have allowed it to deteriorate into a mockery of the term; there is also a need to examine 'la trahison des clercs', the treason of those intellectuals who have abdicated their responsibilities for contributing to the enlightenment and advancement of their community, pursuing instead ideological and personal agendas.

May be someone will actually read some of this stuff and make some comments!

...............................

Hi!
I don't make Christianity 'responsible' though given the claims made, some responsibility must be borne by Christians; I criticise the Christian church in Jamaica (and not only here), today and in the past, for not take anything like a strong enough stand against violence and bigotry; I grew up in the Church of England with a father who was a Church of England parson, who was in favour of the ordination of women, but did not live to see his Church come round to that enlightened view; he was always opposed to the death penalty, unlike too many clergy in Jamaica today, and was one of the most generous spirited people I have known, so I do have some background in this field! If you do actually read my pieces about Christian clergy and other Christians I think you will find I give every credit to people whose fine lives were inspired by their religious beliefs, even though I have not shared those beliefs for more than a quarter century. But I think it is very hard to argue that the mainstream churches have always been faithful exemplars of Christ's teachings, and in many instances churches have been, and still are, complicit in the infliction of physical and psychological suffering on millions. There is only one Christian 'denomination' that seems to me to have been almost entirely consistent in its Christian witness, and that is the Society of Friends - a Christadelphian friend would certainly challenge me on that, and I am sure you would too!

If you feel that the churches in Jamaica today really are taking a high profile and insistent stand against violence, against the many different forms of abuse of human rights that are commonplace, it would be excellent to see names and activities highlighted in some forum, in the press for instance. I know of the work of Father Albert, and in other areas of Father Ho Lung; Barry Wade is involved with the work of JFJ; I respect the work of Ashley Smith. But where are the insistent prophetic voices taking a stand for honesty, integrity, peace, co-operation, respect for the rights of all, including women, children, criminals, gays, AIDS sufferers, men and women in prison - I know there are many who go quietly about the good work that they do, but we also need the powerful voices in the public sphere.

Are you really content with the state of Jamaica today, after 200+ years of activity by Christian churches?

Please check http://jamaicanhistorymonth2007.moonfruit.com/ for the lives of Henry Beckford, Henry Laird Phillips, Walter Vivian Moses, Robert Josias Morgan/Father Raphael, Harold Moody, Lucy Stewart, Cecily Williams, Robert Robinson (some are not yet completed, but they will be there!)
and http://www.joyousjam.info/jamaicanhistoryfebruary2004/ for the lives of Matthew Joseph, T B Stephenson, A L Walcott, Isabel Burris, E E Brown, I N D Gordon, Augustus Cole, and of course Robert Love.

I haven't 'hinted' at these people's accomplishments - I have tried to make them available again to anyone who is interested. Enjoy! as they say.

May I say that none of this is just an 'argument' to me; it is a matter of deeply held convictions about human equality, which I must sadly say I have not always found as deeply held by some 'Christians'. I don't suppose I have been any more successful in living always by those convictions, but, just the same, belief in the equality of all human beings regardless of gender, sexual orientation, 'race'/ethnicity, class, condition, age, political affiliation, religious affiliation, education, and any other possible source of discrimination, - is for me the absolutely essential foundation for creating a truly human society. And Jamaica has been failing increasingly in this respect.