Sorry, religion is the problem. Spend enough time traveling, or on a university campus and it doesn't take long to figure it out. There are literally thousands of religions in the world, and most followers believe theirs is the right and only one. Someone is wrong, wouldn't you say. How is it that the vast majority of Bahamians are Christians. Everyone intellectually arrive at the same conclusion. Or, was it brainwashing from birth? You decide.

Firstly, we need to value education and the idea of scholarship and critical thinking. These ministers talk like they are stupid. But, they are not. They are just abjectly ignorant. Ignorance can be overcome by open minded study. The bible is a human created document that has been translated many, many times over. If you are illiterate, or worse, alliterate, than the chances of finding any truth in a written document is indeed quite small. The pastors here in The Bahamas are allowed their perch because their followers are even less educated than they, if that can be imagined? Advanced study and scholarship can be recognized by those who share similar levels of awareness. We too often confuse superstition with spirituality. And, yes, there is a difference. The bottom line is this. Education allows humanity to gain insight into the inner workings of life in general, including insights into the mystical and spiritual worlds. Foregoing education and intense scholarship, and then asking people to take you seriously as a moral leader is downright ridiculous. One only has to listen to these self professed pastors to realize that learning, true learning and critical thinking and a true concern for the wellbeing of others is not high on their list of things that are important. Though, as a country we continue to say we value education as a way to achieve our dreams and to improve our country, we, in many ways, vote to fail on this matter over and over again. Education requires hard work, humility, open-mindedness and a lifelong commitment. Perhaps we have the reason right there that many of us feel that our pastors have no clout in a modern, decent society.

Or, if we were enlightened enough, to call for a radically new form of government that can actually execute the will of the people?

Mr. Moss,
I appreciate your compassion. However, looking at the myriad of ills we are suffering from in this beautiful country of The Bahamas, I would expect the church to be much more vocal on our leadership values, and failures therein. Most studies of corruption suggest that the rot starts at the top. We have old time Bahamian sayings that attest to this knowledge. The level of hypocrisy, of greed, of egoism, of duplicity, of dishonesty among our leaders, especially Christian leaders is the source of our problems. Marijuana, in my estimation is just like gambling. It is a response to helplessness, to hopelessness. These issues are symptoms, not causes, of ill. If people woke up, became aware and self confident in our abilities as a people, as a nation, the church would disappear. Those who lead, especially our pastors, are among the most ignorant hypocrites I have ever seen and heard. Is there any metric in this country, any, which suggests that are "leaders" are effective in leading the people to a better collective life? Pastors tend, in my view, to lead our people into darkness. Organized religion has failed humanity. Perhaps someday we will grow out of it.

God made man in his image according to Christians. Joeblow, you seem not to understand the least about the intellectual deficiencies and downright hypocrisy of Christian though. I relegate my comments to Christianity because we here in The Bahamas know little else. But, religion in general is just a tool to maintain the power and greed you say you deplore.

Ms. Wallace,

I more than appreciate your viewpoints. You are obviously a compassionate thinker. My personal sentiments are, having lived in and spent time in a number of different countries, that we are about as intellectually backwards as they come. The vast majority of the pastors are morons, to put it charitably. The lack of desire to learn and understand is more than evident in most every aspect of our national lives. From the ranking of our Covid response, to our academic achievements as a country, to the failings of nearly every Bahamian enterprise, to the prominence of idiots leading the so-called church, to the mathematical realities that we are basically bankrupt as a country. You don't have to have wisdom to see the writing on the wall. It is more than apparent that we have failed in most ways as a society. Don't look at the US as the source of all our problems. We have had enough time for our own people to "lead" whereby the fact that we have failed as a society can be laid squarely at our own feet. The Tribune comment pages alone illustrate the level of racism, sexism, corruption and mendacity which prevails. Ms. Wallace, you will be a voice in the wind for the rest of your life. Your viewpoints represent what Christ would say to his fellow world travelers. We are not a Christian country. We are a group of people who don't care to know or to care. The statistics on most every available metric on Bahamian society all point to failure. Worse, we remain proud and don't seem to give a shit. I can think of no worse combination.

This is true. I remember that well.

We would have a tough time beating the top grade Jamaican. Otherwise? I agree.

"It is well enough that people do not understand banking and our monetary sydtem, for if they did, I believe there would be a revolution before tomorrow morning." Henry Ford.
The banking and monrtary system were designed by the bankers. For their benefit. I try and remove intellectual exploration out of the limited realm of The Bahamas. BOB failed because of politics and corruption. The baby and the bath water stink to high heaven.

That was good, John.