5 Things Jamaicans Should Know About Atheists ... [IMO]

Here we are another week where I am posting about something completely unplanned (what was planned has taken the back burner) but I couldn't help it after waking up this morning and musing over the story I read on Daily Veritas and then followed up on over at The Gleaner about Damion Crawford’s ranting on twitter a few days ago. A lengthy twitter debate ensued after Crawford asserts that being atheist or agnostic “a nuh Jamaica” - meaning it is un-Jamaican(?).

Many were of the view that as a politician and public figure he should not be so irresponsible in how he represents himself and beliefs in a public forum. While I agree with this to an extent, this is not what I’m here to highlight. It is the ridiculousness of the notion that the “prevalence” of the “openly ungodly”, i.e. “atheists and agnostics and undecided and non believers” , bear some form of detriment to our country.

There are a few things to note before I go further.

Surely, if we still hold the record of most churches per square mile, it’s reasonable to assume most Jamaicans are still theist. No need to worry yet about Jamaica becoming a nation of non-believers. A friend of mine quite accurately pointed out that Jamaica is the only place where you can go to club and they put on gospel music, everybody is suddenly in praise and worship mode then the dancehall comes back on and we’re back to bumping and grinding and gun pointing like it’s nobody’s business. Yes, it’s still very fashionable to be a believer in this country no matter who or what you are and whatever manner of sin you do. Again, we needn't worry about those darn atheists.

In the Gleaner article it said  

“Crawford charged that the so-called liberals are of the misguided notion that other persons in Jamaica, who are not of like mind, are not entitled to express their belief in a God, in the name of democracy.”

and also

"People have a right to say that they don't believe in God, so why is it that people who believe in God shouldn't exercise their rights to say so?"

I find this very interesting as his own tweet had said

“when since it ok to be openly ungodly they need to stop it yow”

Sounds to me like no-one should have a problem with him openly declaring his personal beliefs but anyone who is atheist should not be putting that out there, not in Jamaica at least. So much for equality.

Speaking of equality if anyone, ANYONE, can explain this (also from the said gleaner article) to me in such a way that it makes sense, please do :

“Crawford suggested that the loss of the nation's collective conscience had robbed it of its sense of equality, which is fundamental to Christianity.”

Or maybe that’s just on the part of the Gleaner misinterpreting his message? In any case I find it hard reconciling Christianity and equality.

You put your thoughts out there in social media? Don’t expect them to go unchallenged. An atheist might not be so naive as to put his or her thoughts and beliefs on facebook or twitter without expecting to be challenged. That is the nature of the platform that connects everybody. Everybody will inevitably have different points of view and discourse will ensue. Just be prepared to defend yourself without looking like an idiot.

I’ve already spent too much time before actually getting to what this post was supposed to be about. That is, what I believe atheist are doing while theists are going to dancehalls and carnivals (not to say that atheists don't “get down”). While theists are charging the unfairness of the ban on dancehall artists in other countries because of lyrical content. While theists are committing robberies, murders (of course they answer only to god who will forgive their sins if they repent or maybe they've accepted hell as their ultimate destination and are fine with it).

All these, of course, are just in my opinion [IMO]. Feel free to support or blast them... Here we go :

1) Atheists and agnostics are getting degrees.

Yes, there seems to be a correlation between atheism, agnosticism and getting higher education. Scholars are often (or should be) liberal thinkers who don’t readily take in every dogma that is fed to them. No wonder so many “guh university guh tun weh from God”. But truthfully, they likely possessed (*sees potential pun right here*) the mindset from long before they even finished high school. It’s the same mindset that has them striving for knowledge and seeking out higher education in the first place. Many who are undereducated and, coincidentally, religious will see colleges and universities as a breeding ground for the ungodly instead of fertile soil for the intellectual. They might forget that higher education in our citizens is important for growth and development in our countries. Some might even forget that atheists, agnostics and the “ungodly” are considerable contributors to our development if solely through seeking higher education.

2) Atheists and agnostics are working.

I think there’s enough said by simply making that statement. When you think about those “fashionable” non believers, how may come to mind that aren’t upward toiling? How many are not contributors to our economy?

3) Atheists and agnostics are rich.

They own companies, hold high positions and are making money. Why? They’ve let go of the notions of long suffering and fasting and prayer to get what they want. They’ve realized that only through hard work and education can they achieve their goals of wealth and prosperity. They don’t carry the shackles of superstitiousness and suspicion that many religious people do towards being rich and towards the wealthy. Souls don’t have to be sold and people don’t have to die in order for anyone to be successful.

3) They are preserving and perpetuating our artistic culture and heritage. 

They sing (even the gospel on choirs), they dance, they act, they write and contribute to the work being done towards preserving our cultural heritage. Whilst not being believers, many do admire and understand the culture of religiousness and spirituality that springs the beautiful art and culture that is uniquely Jamaican. They won't shy away from learning and taking part in and replicating the aspects of our culture that many may shun as un-Christian or ungodly : The bruckings, the jonkonnu, the revival, the reggae, the dancehall. It’s all the same to them. They’ll play that blessed drum and invoke those spirits until…. well because thy kingdom won't come (for them at least).

4) Atheist and agnostics are volunteering and serving the community. 

Not having a religion doesn't mean an atheist has no moral compass. They still have empathy and compassion and a sense of social responsibility and humanitarianism that nudges them to go out and do good on a Sunday or Sabbath. They don’t need scripture to tell them that the hungry needs to be fed, the homeless need a place to live, the blind needs someone to help them see, the children of the poor need help and role models to steer them towards educational success and that that 5K needs to be run (lol). They don’t spend time in church praying for better and for change, they simply go out and make it happen.

5) Atheists and agnostics are championing equality and human rights.

They are defending not only their own right to say and believe what they want, but also the rights of the religious and the theists. Atheists and agnostics understand the impact of social justice and know the plight of the marginalized, especially those for the sake of religion and “morality” (yes this includes the gays that we all, as “Jamaicans”, should fear). They will be quick to take on the controversy that is Mario Deane’s death, mobilizing and vocalizing for the change that we need to see in this country.

I'm not saying that theists and the religious don’t do all these things too. I could never say that. But I find that Jamaicans, especially the “religious” Jamaicans, waste too much time on focussing on things that are NOT a real problem instead of the things that are. The atheists, the agnostics and the like minded theists are getting it right. They realize that what is important to focus on are the aspects of our country and culture that do need to be worked on for the betterment of us all. Let’s look at the state of our economy, our education system, child abuse, the socio-economic disparity, lack of opportunity, social injustice, inequality, poverty, crime, violence, and a host of other maladies that plague our sweet island home. Let us look at those things and declare that “that a nuh Jamaica” and work towards towards that being the truth. People who are atheist, agnostic or secular-minded will never be Jamaica's real problem. Plus dem is jus' as much Jamaican as anybady else and dem a serve dem country too.