Preaching politics

Published in the Jamaica Gleaner: Friday | August 17, 2007

While many people believe that religion should be kept separate from politics, reference to religion on the campaign trail suggests that the country's political leaders are of a different view.

Repetitive mention of God, biblical numerology and divine selection has been a big part of political campaigning as politicians try to win the support of a largely Christian nation.

A Gleaner-commissioned Bill Johnson poll, conducted last weekend, broke down party support among church-going Jamaicans.

Twenty-four per cent of the persons who participated in the poll said they attended church once a week. Of this number, 36 per cent said they would be voting for the JLP while another 36 per cent said their votes would be going to the PNP.

Of the 11 per cent of respondents who said they attend church two or three times a month, the results were similar in relation to support for parties. Thirty-eight per cent said they would be voting for the JLP and 38 per cent said they would vote for the PNP.

Nine per cent of those polled said they attended church only once a month. In this group, the JLP has greater support. Forty-eight per cent said they would be voting for the Bruce Golding-led party while 36 per cent said they would be throwing their support behind Portia Simpson Miller and the PNP.

Many people attend church only a few times a year. This group made up 27 per cent of persons who participated in the poll. Of that number, 48 per cent said their vote would go to the PNP while 34 per cent support the JLP.

Six per cent of respondents said they attend church less than once a year. Of that number, 45 per cent said they would vote for the JLP and 41 per cent said they support the PNP.

According to the Rev. Devon Dick, pastor of the Boulevard Baptist Church, politics and religion have been intertwined from the formative days of the nation's heritage.

Religion and politics go hand in hand

"Historically, religion and politics go hand in hand. Religion deals with people and politics deals with people," he noted. "Both are intertwined and it is definitely not something new, it's been that way from the times of Paul Bogle and George William Gordon."

Dr. Phillip Phinn, the self-proclaimed prophet who has predicted a PNP victory, made similar comments. "I am not aware of any politician using religion to get votes," he said. "I'm not saying that this is not possible, politicians may do anything to get votes, but I don't know of anybody involved in such practices."

He added: "I don't subscribe to the opinion that religion and politics should not be mixed, in fact I believe the Church needs to get more involved in it. We need more church in politics to clean it up."