Jamaica, is a highly religious (highly segregated denomination) Christian country: or so most of us would like to think. The country is noted for its many churches and has been ranked as the country with the most churches per square mile.
This strong christian belief and faith transcend all levels within the social fabric of the country and is even nationalized by the country's government with an annual prayer breakfast in January of each year. This "prayer breakfast" was started in 1980 and has been going for the past 33 years. As the name suggests, it is where our leaders petition the help of the Almighty in the guidance and governance of the country. At least that's what I thought, until I read an article posted on the Jamaica Information Service Website titled... Prayer Breakfast Remains Relevant. (Which in itself is a different matter)
During this time (33years) the country has spiraled and pivoted to new lows in the occurrences of violent crime and other abominable activities such as and due to pervasive corruption. This begs me to ask the questions;
1. How big is our faith?
2. Does prayer really work?
3. Should we really look for help from "above"?
Let me unambiguously state, this is in no way, shape or form a tirade at any deity, religious group or belief system. I am simply questioning the evidence lucidly. You can never argue over belief as one will believe what they want to, hey, who am I to argue with one who says the reflection of the sea makes the sky blue: even though it is wrong.
I will not give my answers to the questions I have posed, however, I will say;
Abrasively, I think the prayer breakfast should be cancelled, (that's just me), if it's a fundraising and or social event, regard it as such and refrain from deluding the people of otherwise. It should also be cancelled because let's face it, from time immemorial we as a nation have been praying and it's just not working for crime (it seem fi work fi hurricane though). Some will say that those who have been praying have little faith and that is the reason for the in-effective of the prayers. In my opinion it is a whimsical farce, we should instead start to do the work required and stop deluding ourselves.
To me faith is fanciful belief which makes a virtue of illogical thinking and also keeps us in a fantasy. Instead of wearing its faith as an emblem, I propose to the government to start doing the work it takes to combat crime. When we come to the understanding and appreciation that praying alone will not stop the spiral and start putting in the work we might see better results. But all the same "wah gone bad a mawnin' caan come good a evenin'". As with many other things surrounding human life, I guess we will never know.
Well, it's obviously no longer a "prayer" breakfast, but as you rightly said, a fund-raising event. Perhaps it would serve the nation better if they indeed called it as it was, and left the praying up to the people who truly have faith (which is but a few). We can pray and have all the faith of all the religions, but simply put: that's not how nations were built, maintained, or fixed. As the Bible also says, "faith without works is dead" and right now we are more than lacking in the works department.
ReplyDeleteI think that some traditions are good, although the meaning or purpose have changed through out the years. I would say, that the purpose of the national prayer breakfast has evolved, to take on a more economical significance. Although fundamental factors which underpinned it have not significantly changed.Jamaica is a Christian nation, and I think that, the prayer breakfast still serves its purpose, as a symbol, to unify and motivate the nation in achieving its objectives.
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