John F. Kennedy once said, “Tolerance implies no lack of commitment to one’s own beliefs. Rather, it condemns the oppression or persecution of others.”
This quote resonates as we reflect on the longstanding tradition of celebrating Easter, one of the most significant periods in the Christian calendar. The weekend begins with the solemnity of Good Friday and culminates in the joy of Easter Sunday, or Resurrection Sunday. It marks the crucifixion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the saviour who, for Christians, embodies unconditional, unmerited love.
While not all in Saint Lucia ascribe to these beliefs, there remains a general tolerance for those who do, as well as a shared embrace of Easter traditions. As Lady Gaga, a self-described “non-fundamentalist Christian,” once noted, “I think tolerance and acceptance and love is something that feeds every community.”
In Saint Lucia, while some of our core values like love and the ability to navigate conflict have eroded over time, our religious tolerance has endured. If we could infuse a deeper sense of love, the foundation of many faiths, we would advance further as a society. For now, we celebrate tolerance as a win.
Easter offers a fitting moment to reflect on this. For Christians, it is a journey from solemn reflection to jubilant celebration. Yet, it is also a time when families, believers and non-believers alike, come together over shared traditions. For some, it is a period of reverence; for others, an opportunity to relax or enjoy recreational activities. Both coexist peacefully.
While the Caribbean has faced political turmoil, Saint Lucia and the region have remained remarkably stable in terms of religious harmony. Across the island, people of all faiths, or none, unite over Easter delights: hot cross buns, tamarind jam, saltfish, accras, and kite flying.
As a nation that is quite culturally rich and diverse, religion has had its footprints not just in this diversity, but in the culture and norms that have shaped us, and Easter is no exception. Many of our schools were historically managed by churches – Anglican, Catholic, Adventist, Methodist – moulding not just religious perspectives but also societal norms. Our cultural celebrations, from La Rose and La Maguerite to Carnival and Calypso, bear religious or African influences, often bringing diverse groups together in harmony.
Perhaps it is these shared roots that foster tolerance. Over 60% of Saint Lucians identify as Christian, but Rastafarianism, Hinduism, and Islam also thrive. The Constitution guarantees freedom of religion, including the right to manifest, propagate and educate in one’s faith. Yet, our tolerance feels less legal than innate – a quiet yearning for unity, if not divinity itself.
Though we debate faith, such discussions rarely descend into strife. This offers hope that we can likewise address challenges like crime, corruption, and conflict resolution – restoring our collective humanity.
Whatever your beliefs this weekend, may tolerance, peace, and love continue to guide us. Now, if only we could do the same with our political differences.
Happy Easter!
Happy Resurrection Sunday!
Bon Fèt Pak!
