The Opium of the People

destruction of formal religions? I wish - the remains of the cathedral in Port au Prince

It´s Sunday today and i join the children at the local Methodist church – Aubs breaks his virginity yet again.

There is a Sunday school beginning at 8am and the kids are sitting at desks listening to the teachers pontificate in what i presume to be a Bible story. It seems to be a lot of talk without much expression or voice modulation, but the kids sit and listen politely. Audience participation seems non-existent.

At 9am the church service begins. There are a couple of swinging songs performed by the whole congregation with the accompanied by drums, bass and a very out-of-tune guitar. This is followed by an all female choir clearly well rehearsed. A young gentleman performs a solo for the next hymn and this is followed by a group of young children. Pretty cool karaoke stuff really. The congregation are then invited in for a couple of more numbers with plenty of Christs, Gods and Halleluiahs, before the collection box is passed round. I´m thinking this is all quite harmless.

Then the sermon begins. Oh My Hell!!! Talk about fire and brimstone. The Priest bawls, screams and screeches into the distorting microphone with passion and fervour. I´m in complete shock and it´s in French!!! His diatribe continues for more than an hour, and i fear he is in for a heart attack, not least because the temperature is well over 32 degrees. Fortunately our kids must be somewhat used to this and passively listen to this tirade.

So much anger and hatred reminds me of Passover celebrated in my parents´ house last week. Ma informs me The Boy was surprised that i headed to Haiti before this “Jewish Festivity”. However, it should be noted that The Boy is renowned for being completely bonkers. Passover “celebrates” the exodus of the Jews from Egyptian slavery where 10 hideous plagues were inflicted by God, including pestilence, blood, boils and lastly the death of the first born.

And i thought God was meant to be all loving and compassionate, not nasty, vengeful and deceitful. Is it any wonder that we live in such a screwed up World?