THE EDITOR, Sir:
ADDED ENTERTAINMENT last Sunday comprised a dozen or more comments on the Internet concerning Mr. Otis' astounding discovery that God isn't stopping by us, because Jamaicans make him uncomfortable!
I hope that Otis' startling discovery doesn't give the cruise ships and tourists any negative ideas about coming to Jamaica. But, the whole tragic history of man, is about making God or gods uncomfortable, and in recent times more uncomfortable especially from where Otis came to bring us the "good news." But I am not convinced that man is the cause of God's discomfort, but rather he is the tragic victim. I think our theologians need to do some rethinking, if humanity is not to continue deceiving itself.
God appears to be uncomfortable everywhere, and if we are stupid enough to invite a foreign preacher, especially from the USA, to come to Jamaica to show us how to pray, we deserve what Otis said. But it is the 'in thing' among congregationalists competing with one another for 'saved souls' and 'offerings' to hire foreign evangelists to draw big crowds. It is happening all over in 'third world' English-speaking countries. Bishops and doctors of divinity are now a dime a dozen.
Once a Jamaican complained to his pastor that the tithe (one-tenth of his earnings paid to the church) that he was required to pay was too much, and he asked why he had to be so burdened when the pastor so often preached that religion was free.
"Brother, religion is as free as water," the pastor ex-plained, "but you have to pay for the pumping and the piping."
Patrons like Otis are undoubtedly paid from the tithes and offerings of the gullible.
I am, etc.,
OREN COUSINS
orencou@n5.com.jm
