I believe humans can be ethical and moral without god(s). Morality is relative, varying throughout time and across cultures. It is not the fixed entity conservative Christians like to claim it is. Religious dogma constrains our understanding of morality and often justifies outdated thinking. For this reason, we must not be afraid to question the views advanced by religious leaders and adherents.

The stranglehold of the clergy is most apparent with regards to conversations about homosexuality in Jamaica. Faith-based leaders simultaneously advance a message of universal love and tolerance while preaching that homosexuals should be pitied but never accepted. These inspired (wo)men of ‘God’ distance themselves from violence against gay people while affirming their right to condemn homosexual practice. Evidently, they are unaware that moral disapproval of homosexuality undergirds the hatred that leads to violence.

The Bible does not endorse progressive gender and sexual politics. It is a compelling work of literature with some elements of fantasy that describe the societies in which the writers lived. By blindly appropriating historical teachings for use as moral directives to demonize homosexuals, we are proving why Christian theology has no place in public discourse on sexuality and human rights.

Hilaire Sobers should be lauded for his courage. It is far too easy to yield to majoritarian views on religion. Jamaican agnostics and atheists should now realize that they are not alone. We are currently building a Facebook community by the name of ‘Jamaicans for Secular Humanism’. Please join us if you are interested in subverting the dominance of conservative Christianity in Jamaican society.

An edited version of the above Letter to the Editor was published in the Jamaica Gleaner on April 21, 2012.