Dear Editor,

It is sad, unfortunate even, to witness the fight against conversation, dialogue, and discussion in a country that is plagued with domestic violence, intimate partner violence, and gang warfare. Poor conflict resolution skills prevail. Children in school are familiar with the use of the knife and other weapons as a method of addressing conflicts.

The Church throughout Jamaica has an unparalleled reach across the nation. It is such a pity that it continues divided and weakened in its capacity to model working together and sitting at the table of dialogue, thereby facilitating discussion in a civilised manner, and giving people a chance to engage in critical thinking while making up their own minds.

Jamaican Christianity is so preoccupied with the reward and punishment approach that many who have been frightened into a relationship with God continue to tremble at the sound of divisive voices while moving away from a sense of community and independent thinking.

Jesus’ call to love one another, the new commandment after which Maundy Thursday is named, is a much deeper call than what obtains in many Christian circles. It transcends the notion of a group of smiling Christians holding hands and singing, “They’ll know we are Christians by our love.” It involves members of the body of Christ, working together, serving together, and conversing together, when it is not easy to do so.

If the members of the body of Christ cannot model reconciliation and a sense of community building, what purpose is it really serving in the world? When will we recognise that many Christian families are struggling with sexual violence and child abuse in the home? How will we empower our children with age-appropriate sex education?

Recently, it was revealed that there are conservative church-affiliated groups which militate against child sex education and any material that gives information about the challenging subject of human sexuality. It is situations like these which remind us that Government has an obligation to exercise leadership in empowering its citizens with education concerning humanity and the identity as sexual beings.

If we cannot communicate effectively with each other, as members of the body of Christ, is it any wonder that many Christians cannot even fathom the idea of dialogue with fellow human beings in other religious traditions or with those who do not follow any religious tradition? In fact, many are against the notion of interfaith dialogue.

The people in the pews are not idiots. They can arrive at their own positions on matters requiring analysis and nuanced reflections. Sadly, politics and religion have long benefited from dictatorial regimes and approaches. Such approaches discourage and punish dissent. Constituents must stay in harbour and not venture out on the open seas. What does it say about leadership when this attitude prevails?

Conservative religion and conservative politics benefit immensely from programmed minds. All adherents accept the leader’s thinking and directive without question. However, this kind of approach to leadership and followership is a serious contributory factor to the underdevelopment of the human community.

Love and loyalty of heart, and wisdom and courage of mind, are for our beloved Jamaica. The cult of personality is robbing us of that deeper sense of standing up for justice, community, and peace. The dictatorial approach against dialogue militates against thinking generously and honestly.

May we actively seek to build our Jamaica through a spirit of caring, sharing, conversing, and respecting, while we work to realise that justice, truth, be ours forever, Jamaica, land and people we love.

Fr Sean Major-Campbell

Anglican priest & human rights advocate

seanmajorcampbell@yahoo.com