Orville Taylor | Religious wrath talk

At best she is perhaps an agnostic. If pressed, one may even be tempted to call her atheist. However, she is perhaps one of the most Christian persons that I know; assuming of course, that Christian means having a mind and action which line up with the teachings of Christ. True, she grew up with her father who behaved as if he had Jesus on speed dial. But she, like too many of the population on the whole, has seen too much nominal Christian window dressing and showboating and doesn’t want to be outed.

Recently she contributed to someone she has never met; an individual in a ship load of trouble. Like her, I am unimpressed by many religious leaders, and day-to-day Christians, who kill you with “Alleluia!” but seem not have a clue in the daily doings, about who and what Jesus was and about.

Today is the 84th birthday of legendary anthropologist, Prof Barry Chevannes. This was a man who walked the talk. Every bit of his dealings as an academic and ordinary citizen was exemplary. There was no disconnect between what he spoke of and how he lived. He greeted ordinary students, picked up candy wrappers from lecture rooms, and understood that his writings on manhood and family life were not merely for some esoteric committees on the plantation; but were to the good of the people.

Do not for any moment think that this is an attempt to preach Christianity upon anyone, or a declaration of my own faith or practices. However, given this incessant reliance on public shows of religiosity by our political leaders, with Christian clerics in tow, it is about time to call a spade a shovel, and not be satisfied with being given a fork.

We made fun of Peter Bunting when he called for divine intervention in 2015, and when Bobby Montague did something similar, with a quip about his obeah man uncle, the underlying message was that we needed practical solutions, because the Christian God ‘helps those who help themselves’. Of course, Isaiah 25:4 says the opposite, as he is “… stronghold to the poor … to the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat...” But, then again, how many really know what they believe or preach?

Around 80 per cent of our population claims to belong to a Christian denomination and are, therefore, accustomed to hearing their preacher wax eloquently. Barefaced congregants, including public officials, some of whom are victimising their colleagues, showing disrespect to the public, devaluing and violating the very oath of their office, kill you with “Alleluia! And Praise the Lord!” with tears in their eyes. Doubtless, simultaneously praying like the gunmen with pocket Bibles in their back pockets, that the Lord doesn’t act like in the Torah, and smite them.

LINING ITSELF UP

My real issue with breakfast prayer caucuses and gatherings endorsed by the political leaders is that somehow the church is lining itself up to them. What really ought to obtain is first and foremost the religious leaders themselves making it very clear about what these not only into a mysterious afterlife, which based on the limited imaginations of pastor dictates of Christ are and how do these admonitions help us to be better persons and not just lead us, actually sounds like torture.

Jesus himself, assuming that the scriptures are essentially truthful and accurate, did do more works than he did sermons. And he was not simply telling us how to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven. Indeed this idea of waiting for another world and another life has been precisely the opiate that has kept colonial and black people, in particular, in subjection. After all, it is this warped notion of Christianity that sanctioned conquest and slavery. For persons who really don’t understand the complexities of the old Judaic law, some of which clearly are not applicable to us today, Jesus broke it down into two.

First, love God with all our heart, our strength and mind. This might not be easily grasped. Jesus breaks it down much easier in the second commandment and he simply said, love your neighbour as you love yourself, and whatsoever you do to your brother, you do to me. Thus, the best way to show that you love God is to show love to his people. This universal standard, not unique to Christianity, requires that you ask whether or not your behaviour is appropriate and whether or not if you were in the position of the recipient of your conduct, you would have approved of it. There is no other golden standard or golden rule. This is particularly so for persons who occupy public office and use public resources.

Another important part of Christianity is that every individual accepts his own sinful nature, admit shortcomings and then makes a commitment to fix it. With the demise of the Tallawahs, it is not cricket as usual. But whatever game some religious leaders are playing, they need a different set of balls.

A political code of conduct, an internal disciplinary process of a political party and guidelines from the Integrity Commission are lower hanging fruit than the standard outlined by Jesus. Being respectful to other politicians, being truthful to the Jamaican people, treating your spouse with respect and avoiding physical abuse are well within the normal range of decent behaviour.

Recognising that protection of workers’ rights, human rights and freedom of the press are also Christian standard, is elementary for practising Christians.

Finally, when pastors belch revenge in defence of the death penalty and Mosaic corporal punishment; they not only are clueless about their mandate, but they have no right to even baulk, when the non-Christians maul and kill each other because, pastor ‘done say, that certain kind a people fi get beaten and fi dead!’

Happy heavenly birthday, Barry. We are trying to do some of the work you left.

Dr Orville Taylor is senior lecturer at the Department of Sociology at The University of the West Indies, a radio talk-show host, and author of ‘Broken Promises, Hearts and Pockets’. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and tayloronblackline@hotmail.com.