In November 2017, the Spiritual Baptists of T&T solemnly commemorated the centenary of “The Shouters’ Prohibition Ordinance,” the second wave of legislation designed to eradicate Afro-Caribbean Christianity. In 1927, Grenada was hit by the third wave, the “Public Meetings (Shakerism) Prohibition Ordinance.” The tidal wave of state persecution of Spiritual …
Read More »Do churches condone domestic violence? Can Christian spouses continue to turn the other cheek?
“In conversations with a couple of Christian girlfriends about my situation, I discovered that their Christian husbands were also physically and emotionally abusive. And in October of this year, I met another young woman at a Christmas event who admitted that her Christian husband was also guilty of abuse but …
Read More »Fryea’s Advice: Does your priest or pastor prey? It’s time to confront sex abuse in church
In a recent address to our nation, Prime Minister Keith Rowley encouraged us as a people to do our part in curbing criminal activities in our country. As a result of that clarion call, I have decided to shine a light on a dark issue that has been affecting our …
Read More »Fryea’s Advice: Martin Luther’s fire put out by peace and safety? No protests from Protestants?
I can’t hear you, brothers and sisters; your silence is deafening. It is a source of great concern to me that, in our very active pro-march and protesting society, I am hearing nothing about any plans for any churches to commemorate the great event that took place on 31 October …
Read More »Daly Bread: More predictions of storm; will National Security finally include culture in crime plan?
I have to return to the prevailing conditions of instability which are obvious to me but now as a post-script to my tribute to Roland Quesnel, my revered teacher, a contemporary of mine, Randolph Peters, wrote that, like me, the person who most impacted his intellectual development was Quesnel. He …
Read More »My revered teacher: Daly’s tribute to the late Father Roland Quesnel
There are co-incidences in life that it is sometimes difficult to treat merely as co-incidences. My revered teacher died on Wednesday last, aged 90. Some years ago, he sent me a document entitled My Last Will with a request that I keep it for him “as an official document.” This …
Read More »Fryea’s Advice: Will the PNM even countenance the discord dumping the Concordat will cause?
A release from the Communications Department advertises the Ministry of Education’s National Consultation on Education. The release, dated 15 February, 2016, identifies the amendment of the Concordat as one of the items on the agenda. What!?!? Amend the Concordat? Absurd! Preposterous!! Why? Because concordats, once signed, cannot be amended without …
Read More »Trump, Trini gods and threats to Sunday freedom? Charles asks about dependence and independence
“The immense devastation and tragedy this world has been facing in recent times propels me to ensure my life is in harmony with the word of God. However, when the President of the most powerful country in the world signs an influential public document that selects a specific day as …
Read More »Dear Editor: Has the Church finally stifled Martin Luther’s Protest?
“Tuesday 31 October, 2017 will mark 500 years since that day when Martin Luther posted his theses on the church’s door[…] “Where is the fire that burned in the hearts of men opposing the system that was trying to get men to submit their consciences to them at all costs?” …
Read More »July 1990 extra: An ex-Jamaat elder speaks out; how the shot was called on me
“I have earned the right to speak because of my commitment to Islam and because of the blood that gushed forth from me because of speaking out and being critical. “I speak on the authority of the four 357 magnum bullets from the gun that Mark Guerra gave to Quincy …
Read More »DEAR EDITOR: Force-fed freedom? Must Muslim women move backwards to Islamic Front?
“Is Abdullah suggesting, however irrational that may appear, that anyone who raises questions about the advisability or wisdom of wearing the hijab is encouraging Muslim women to tend towards prostitution? “Clearly, Muslim women, hijabis or not, can think for themselves. Evidently, Aisha Sabur didn’t feel she wanted to remove her …
Read More »Hijabbing still?! Liburd looks at Baldeosingh, religion, the Guardian and the hijab
In the year of our Lord 2017, when we routinely hand money to indiscernible faces behind tinted windows—at places ranging from the gas station to a government office—spend thousands in online transactions with no personal interaction whatsoever or troubleshoot complex issues over the phone with people we will never meet; …
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