Some questions on prayer breakfast

THE EDITOR, Madam:

I am writing with regards to the editorial in The Gleaner titled ‘Of breakfast and politics’. The reasons for hosting this event give rise to a few logical questions.

The editorial mentioned the need for peace and unity, which seems to play a pivotal role for the annual staging. Yet, even being an annual event in itself may speak volumes of it’s overall effectiveness – but, be that as it may. However, if the staging of the annual prayer meeting is to bond for non-violence and reconciliation through truce and honest intercession to God, a question to be answered is : “What is the source of the conflict and disharmony?”

Does a neighbour call the police to address a family dispute or conflict every year that a flare-up happens? Or are humans actually independent? Is man’s resolution inertia a feature of personal responsibility and independence? Yet, granted that cops or authorities were to correct the problems, what is the role of a family head? Apart from the scriptural unlikeliness that God would respond when we have already decided to go our own way and that we don’t really need Him anyway, wouldn’t such an intervention put the security ministry out of office?

Further, if the different denominations are meeting under an umbrella of one accord – a gathering for peace and unity – how can this be when the difference of beliefs converging there may equally imply a similar difference of gods? Isn’t it true that a man is more than a body or an existence, but, even more important, who he actually is as a person – his qualities personalities – his likes and dislikes and so on?

Are we sure that when we come together physically, we are equally meeting spiritually and representing the same God? And, what of the perquisites for approving or granting a request made to Him?

HOMER SYLVESTER

Mount Vernon

New York