THE EDITOR, Sir:

Reading some of what is written may lead one to think that desperation is guiding our brains. D.P. Hayles in his letter 'Weed the Garden' suggests that God is not hearing us because of the sinners among us. When I went to New York in 1985, and we saw all those openly homosexual people, a friend suggested that if God did not destroy New York he would have to apologise to Sodom. He is yet to do either.

Reflects church's values

I live in Stockholm, Sweden, one of the most irreligious countries in the world. When the Church dismissed a priest who said she did not believe in God, the courts reinstated her. She still has a congregation. Yet Sweden is one of the countries that most reflects the values of the Church. There is great equality, no poverty, very low crime, free school to university level for all, universal free health care, 18 months parental leave, an existence minimum which requires that everyone has about JA$36,000/month after housing expenses. There is also a booming profession for persons performing non-religious burials.

Less than 10 per cent of the population of Sweden, Norway, and Denmark attend church. I do not have a single friend who does, and that is including the Jamaicans here. The Center for Global Development statistics indicate that countries that have the least church following are among the largest donors to poor countries.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with the values of the church in general. But if Jamaica is expecting to pray its way out of its current problems, then we should remember how long it took us to get out of slavery. Maybe it is best to pray, put good practices into place, and then pray again.

I am, etc.,

DOREEN McGANN

doreenmcgann@aim.com

Via Go-Jamaica