The Importance of a Single National Story

We need a single, coherent narrative of the Jamaican Dream. What are we all working towards? Why do we need to all do this nation thing together?

Jamaica has been heavily reliant on the teachings of churches. As “compensation” for brutal enslavement then low wage jobs, churches promised that your reward would be in Heaven, not here and now. And only if you lived by the rules you were given, no matter how horrible. God would see you enduring Hell and give you extra benefits.

Humans live in society, however. And Jamaican society has made less and less space for churches. Older persons are the ones mostly going to church, and men, even older men are barely going at all. So, a new teaching has emerged.

Why wait for rewards in Heaven when you can see them now? A quick glance on Instagram has some of the most lavish homes and beautiful cars and bags on display, even here in Jamaica. For all the people who were praying for God to bless them in Heaven, they have seen people become increasingly wealthy here on earth.

As a result, they became jealous. Envious. And their lives now seem less enjoyable.

So their new “god” became wealth. Visible wealth. And since years of formal education and struggle aren’t able to give it in a quick timeframe (we discuss the struggles every day), some Jamaicans have said, “money haffi mek now.”

So corruption, crime, scamming, and gangs replace the community of church and the aspiration of future rewards in Heaven. An X6 will serve me better today. And who to tell if I’ll even make it to Heaven. Better make the most of what I can!

But even the churches have responded. Prosperity Gospel doctrines allow for people to have their cake and eat it too, be rich on earth AND in heaven. Allowing for wealth to have its place alongside God.

The nation then has a chunk believing that doing what it takes for you and yours to be ok, and ok means rich, is all that matters. Another chunk that believes we must all work together for God to reward us in the afterlife. And a third chunk feels you can get wealth on Earth and in Heaven and God will favour them first.

A country going forward can’t be pulled into so many directions without a unifying story. The tension will tear us apart.

Is tearing us apart.

So, we need a single, coherent narrative of the Jamaican Dream. What are we all working towards? Why do we need to all do this nation thing together?