This is a meaningful editorial St. Lucia Times (April 18, 2025):
John F. Kennedy once said, “Tolerance does not imply a lack of commitment to one’s beliefs; rather, it condemns the oppression or persecution of others.”
This quote resonates with a look back at the long-standing tradition of celebrating Easter, one of the most important periods in the Christian calendar. The weekend begins with a solid sole on Good Friday and culminates in the joy of Easter Sunday or Sunday’s resurrection. It marks the crucifixion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Savior who embodies unconditional, useless love for Christians.
Although not all of St. Lucia’s people attribute these beliefs to these beliefs, there remains a general tolerance for those who do not only share the Easter tradition but also do it. Self-proclaimed “non-fusion Christian,” Lady Gaga once said, “I think tolerance, acceptance and love are what feed all communities.”
In St. Lucia, some of our core values, such as our ability to navigate love and conflict, have been eroded over time, but our religious tolerance has endured. If we can inject a deeper sense of love, which is the basis of many faiths, we will advance further as a society. For now, we celebrate tolerance as a victory.
Easter offers a fitting moment to look back on this. For Christians, it is a journey from a rigorous reflection to a celebration of joy. But it is also a time when families, followers and non-believers come together over similarly shared traditions. For some, it’s an age of respect. For others, it’s an opportunity to relax and enjoy recreational activities. Both coexist peacefully.
The Caribbean is facing political turmoil, but St. Lucia and the region are very stable in terms of religious harmony. All the islands, people of all faiths, or no one unites Easter Joy: Hot Cross Pan, Tamarind Jam, Salt Fish, Accra, Kite Flying.
As a very culturally rich and diverse country, religion has a footprint not only in this diversity, but also in the cultures and norms that have shaped us. Easter is no exception. Many of our schools were historically managed by churches (Anglican, Catholic, Adventist, Methodist). From La Rose and La Magritte to Carnival and Calypso, our cultural celebrations have religious or African influences and often harmonize diverse groups.
Perhaps it is the roots of these shared fostering tolerance. Although more than 60% of St. Lucians have identified themselves as Christians, Rastafarism, Hinduism and Islam also flourish. The Constitution guarantees freedom of religion. This includes the right to express, spread and educate one’s faith. But we feel that our tolerance is less legal than innate. It is a quiet longing for unity, if not divinity itself.
We argue faith, but such arguments rarely fall into conflict. This restores collective humanity, hoping to be able to deal with challenges like crime, corruption, and conflict resolution in the same way.
Whatever your beliefs this weekend, the tolerance, peace and love of May will continue to guide us. Now, if we could do the same thing with political differences.
For the original article, please refer to https://stluciatimes.com/170338/2025/04/editorial-easter-and-the-the-the-tolerance/
[Image above (detail) from photo by Bill Mortley Photography.]
