Barbadians are being urged to return to the basics and be their brother’s keeper.
Reverend Hugh Sandiford made the appeal during a recent service at St Matthias Anglican Church.
Reflecting on an incident that occurred the previous day when a route taxi overtook five vehicles, and almost crashed into an oncoming car, he said this was only one example of the aggression on the nation’s roads.
“I ask myself, is there any correlation between that and what is happening in schools? In recent times we have been hearing about violence in our schools, but could it be that we are being influenced by the adult behaviour? So much of this violence that we are seeing is as a consequence of religion and spirituality featuring less and less in our society,” he said.
While noting that religious education was once part of the school’s curriculum, the cleric suggested that perhaps there needed to be a return to some form of religious instruction or moral and ethical studies within the education system.
Golden rule
“Persons need to be reminded of the golden rule – do unto others as you would have them do onto you. Persons need to be reminded what the Commandments are about, our duty to God and our duty to each other,” Sandiford said.
He added: “Even in our industrial relations, yes, we provide a service to those we represent, but we also need to be mindful with those whom we are negotiating. Those who are sitting across from us are also our brothers and sisters as well, and therefore demands of us to demonstrate the love of heart . . . [the Bible speaks of],” he said.
Relationship with God
Adding that people knew what was right but did not do it, he said the action might be “an indictment upon us all as Barbadians and as Christians”.
“Have we forgotten our relationship with God? Have we forgotten the responsibilities as a part of that relationship? We say that Barbados is Christian . . . but when we look at the way in which society is now living out its life, does it demonstrate that we are Christian at heart?” he asked the congregation.
Sandiford said this was not an easy task, but would contribute to a better society. (RA)