Our religious and spiritual communities must do better

Oct 31, 2010 Letters

Dear Editor,
On the morning of October 27, 2010, I awoke with thoughts afresh about a dream I had. While contemplating the images displayed in my mind, my thoughts shifted toward the state of affairs in Guyana and the decaying role of our religious and spiritual communities. Guyana has become a wicked and weeping nation and our religious and spiritual communities are no less to blame.
As the spiritual and moral pulse of our society, these communities, their leaders and faithful worshipers are failing the people of this nation. Leaders must put aside their personal gain and step out their comfort zones in order to reach out to each and every single Guyanese, providing practical strategies and initiatives that can facilitate the empowerment of all. Charity and handouts are simply shortsighted, short-term and offer no long-term and strategic means of empowerment.
It is not enough to host festive occasions and issue statements of concern and condolences from behind religious edifices while proclaiming that you are doing “God’s” work by attempting to convert as many as possible and protect your privileges of social status, financial security and insulation. Stories of faith, obligation (especially financial and moral), damnation, hope and miracles are sold to their followers in order to upkeep attendance rates and contributions.
No real practical solutions are taught, primarily ineffective community programmes established and no social movements initiated to reclaim the moral and spiritual health of Guyanese. If you are a non-believer worst yet, woe unto you because you will be looked upon with shame and sympathy for your ignorance and lot.
Subtly and explicitly these leaders use scared text to tell their followers to be aware of “others” (those who do not share your spiritual values) and to keep praying and having faith God hears you. My grandmother always told me that God helps those who help themselves.
More importantly, the Bible says that faith without works is dead; this is equally true of prayer. Thich Nhat Hanh teaches in his book the Energy or Prayer, that prayer without mindfulness (awareness), intention, love and commitment is prayer without action.
This is the energetic quality of prayer. In the Holy Bible Jesus told, it is said in the Bible that Jesus stated, “I came not for the healthy but for the sick, those who are well have no need of a physician.” (Mathew 9:12, Luke 5:31 and Mark 2:17) Further in the Quran, Mohammed is recorded as being illiterate and destitute yet he still received spiritual guidance and sustenance beyond measure. In many Hindu sects, Krishna is recorded as being a cow herder, prince and servant. The etymology of Krishna reveals that the word means black and/or darkness, symbolizing the mysterious and omnipresent Supreme Being. Mary was an ordinary woman, no less or more ordinary than any of our mothers.
These ordinary people received extraordinary spiritual insight and carried out herculean actions to help all, not a selected few.
Locally our religious leaders bestow upon themselves fancy names such as Prophet, Prophetess, Imam, Right Reverend and Holy without realising that these titles are symbols of privilege and separation. It’s the same with President and Minister, etc.
Religion and spirituality have become a bureaucratic political system; leaders hide behind titles, names and offices, while the mass continues to toil with empty prayers and faith.
Every day we as so-called spiritual and religious persons pass countless homeless persons, drug addicts, abused children, alcohol abusers and addicts, pedophiles and countless others on the brink of self-destruction, but we continue on with our business as if our empty faith and prayers alone will offer them some miracle.
It’s time for our religious and spiritual communities, leaders and the faithful to step outside our comfort zones and independently/collectively engage in practical work with those who are most in need.
Perhaps it is most useful to start with our youth, 20 years from now if we do not now provide our youth with the training, guidance and opportunities required for positive growth, our nation will surely become a nation of beggars and ex-convicts. The writing is on the wall!
R. Small

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