THERE IS NEVER a time in life when everything seems to be exactly what it ought to be. However, no matter how far from the ideal things are, no matter how chaotic life is, we never let go of the ideal. We never lose sight of how things should be.
Life is lived in this gap between what is – present conditions – and what ought to be – the ideal. This can generate in us a drive towards the improvement of present conditions. It is within this activity that the moral character of humanity has been forged and continues to be forged.
The Christian teaching of the Kingdom of God, especially that captured in the Sermon on the Mount, speaks to these conditions of humanity in three ways:
1. It offers a collection of values;
2. It identifies the conditions that are the very opposite of these; and
3. It offers a way of moving forward.
These capture the very nature of being human and can guide our reflections on the issue of violence in our society.
Barbadians have many values relating to their lives, families, leaders, institutions and country. These are grounded in our faith, but are also present in people who do not openly associate with organised religion.
Right from wrong
Respect for human lifeis a primary value that Barbadians treasure. The violence that results in the taking of a life as well as other forms like that inflicted on children reflects a serious drift away from this value.
As we try to understand what is happening at this time in Barbados, and why, we must however avoid the slippery slopeof confusing explanation with justification.
Each person, we believe, has a conscience, the ability to discern right from wrong. Those engaged in acts of violence are fully aware that it is wrong to do so. Lack of remorse does not indicate absence of the discernment between right and wrong.
As we explore efforts to address violence, one of the many questions before us is how can this society help those engaged in these acts to come to grips morally with their actions and commit to another way of life.
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Moral disconnect
The penalty imposed for the act done may not automatically create the sense of moral responsibility that can develop a sense of remorse and a commitment to a move away from violence. There is a bit of wisdom that morality cannot be legislated.
The urgent problem facing us at the moment is what can be termed a moral disconnect that is leading many people to engage in acts of violence without, it seems, a sense of remorse.
If we are producing a larger group of people for whom violence raises no moral issues, then there are questions about the influence on these groups of the primary moulding institutions in the society – home, school, religion and other groups.
We cannot however gloss over individual responsibility. People who consciously decide to engage in acts of violence can easily find excuses for their actions and be sidetracked from confronting the moral responsibility for their actions.
As a way forward, we need to do more to assist people from resorting to violence. Our children and young people, especially our boys and young men, should be assisted in cultivating a moral self-awareness that can guide them away from types of behaviour that we are witnessing at this time.
The three primary moulding institutions – home, school and religion, along with others, can collaborate on this. These can function as partners in the most critical exercise in any society: the moral moulding of each generation.
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Facing challenges
The model we have in the Kingdom of God in the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth can function as a motivating force as we wrestle with our present conditions. It is realistic, insisting that in life, there are challenges to be faced. It offers hope that the challenges can be conquered.
There is no easy way of doing so but it states that one is possible. It calls for sacrifice and hard work as we press on to put right what has gone wrong.
There can hardly be a better message for us here in Barbados at this time as we work to address our challenges and try to shape a better future for our country.
May God bless us and guide us as we press forward.
Dr John Holder is Anglican Bishop of Barbados and Archbishop of the West Indies.
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