Letter of the Day | Can religion and state be separate?

THE EDITOR, Madam:

Love and support are extended to our fellow Jamaicans who have been affected by Hurricane Melissa. Thankfully, they have maintained their hope, demonstrating the truth of the saying, “where there is hope, there is life”. Hurricane Melissa’s impact is not confined to western Jamaica; it affects the entire country. To draw a parallel from the Apostle Paul’s metaphor in the Bible, where he likens the human body to a community, if one part is ailing, the entire body is affected.

This serves as a transition to a conversation about religion and the nation. I am grateful that the prime minister has announced that $75 million of taxpayer funds have been earmarked for the rehabilitation of churches that suffered damages as a consequence of Melissa.

I am also appreciative of the response of one of our members of parliament who, in the atmosphere of transparency and accountability, has raised questions concerning the matter on behalf of others.

The discussion extends beyond the allocation of government funds for hurricane relief. It encompasses the broader relationship between religion and the state within a democratic framework. This is not a simple binary conversation asserting a strict separation of religion and state, but rather a more nuanced exploration. Let us consider that the essence of nation-building involves not only economics and politics but also morality and the process of learning how to coexist in community. If one takes Christianity as an example, the Apostle Paul says in Galatians 3:28 NRSVUE [28]” There is no longer Jew or Greek; there is no longer slave or free; there is no longer male and female, for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.” This is the essence of being a nation. Furthermore, one knows that religion determines our culture, and, truthfully, all of us are motivated by a divine being, even those who claim no allegiance to one.

It is important to acknowledge that religious organisations were historically instrumental in providing educational, healthcare, and other essential services to communities, particularly to underserved populations, long before governmental bodies assumed these responsibilities. Even today, religious organisations continue to play a complementary role to government efforts in these areas. This is in addition to being taxpayers.

Religion contributes to nation-building, even within a democratic framework, despite not dictating government policy. This is the complex relationship of our society.

REV MICHAEL ALLEN