People who are believers know that faith and fun are compatible.

However, the compatibility depends on the spiritual foundation of the relationship between faith and fun. It must be humbly acknowledged.

The relationship between faith and fun is frequently tested in real life especially so at the time of Carnival.

Since the preliminaries of Carnival 2008 have already begun, let us take a look at the spirituality involved in the relationship between faith and fun.
 
Entertainment and values

Professional entertainers, usually without malice, tell jokes about religion. To get a laugh, they say, “if you are having fun, it must be a sin”.

The medical profession is not exempt from being the target of the same type of humour. To get a laugh, the entertainers make light of the dietary advice of doctors. They say, “if food tastes good, it must be bad for you.”

While people laugh at the jokes, they understand that what is funny can also be true. Sometimes what is “called” fun is not only objectively sinful, it can be life-threatening. People understand that the dietary advice of doctors is correct – bad eating habits can injure health, at times, irreparably.

The wisdom of the people can be profound. For example, when entertainers “cross the line” the people react. They do not laugh. They remain silent or, depending on the tolerance level of the audience, they begin to shout at the entertainers.

My point is that humour is a subtle but powerful form of communication. People remember the jokes! They remember the calypsos! They laugh at themselves and at others because they recognise that the truth factor in the jokes and calypsos applies to them.

So how does one develop and keep a proper perspective? The answer is by understanding the relationship between faith and fun. It leads to critical listening, watching and judging.  It keeps everyone alert.

The relationship between faith and fun

There are three essential components to a correct understanding of the spirituality that forms the foundation of the relationship between faith and fun.

1) Culture   

Similar to humour which has already been mentioned, culture is a powerful communicator of values. What makes culture so powerful is that most people rarely think about it and never critically analyze it. They just accept it and live the values culture communicates.

By definition culture is an historically transmitted pattern of meanings embodied in symbols, myths and rituals by means of which people communicate, perpetuate and foster their knowledge about and their attitudes toward life.

The definition corresponds to the teaching of the Pontifical Council for Culture in the Vatican that states, “all culture deals with mystery: the mystery of the world, the mystery of the human person and the ultimate mystery, the mystery of God.”

From the beginning of the preaching of the Gospel, the Church has been engaged in dealing with cultures. The Church understood that reaching the people meant gradually inculturating the gospel so it influences the culture in which the people live.

That process must continue until the gospel slowly reshapes the culture and makes it into a Christian culture filled with Christian values. For the Church, faith that does not become culture is faith not fully accepted.

2) History

In a real sense Carnival has a history that is deeply rooted in Catholic culture. It preceded Lent which was a time of penance. The word Carnival has been understood in two ways:
1) farewell to flesh because of the Lenten laws of fast and abstinence; and
2) farewell to the things of the flesh i.e. those things that led to sin. In its Catholic cultural context, Carnival ended as Ash Wednesday began.

In the countries of the world that were not Catholic, Carnival was either not celebrated at all or, if celebrated, it was done for business reasons.

Allow me to share a cultural example. When I was Bishop in the Diocese of Roseau, a French Creole culture, I was impressed by the fact that at 5:55a.m. on Ash Wednesday the noise and partying would stop as if someone turned off a switch.

Why? The reason was because at 6:00 a.m. the Ash Wednesday Liturgy would begin in the Cathedral. The people understood their Catholic cultural history. They accepted it and they respected it.

The secularisation of history has brought us many changes. Culture has been de-christianised in many ways. Carnival is now an international business. The tourism industry is significantly involved.

Neo-pagan influences have infiltrated Carnival celebrations in many places and unfortunately these influences have become part of the attraction for tourism packages e.g. Carnival in parts of South America.

In this atmosphere, it is easy to introduce the abuse of alcohol, illegal drugs, heterosexual and homosexual activity along with theft, violence and murder by criminal elements. 

Once again, the Church will have to do what it did in early Church history - reach the people through their culture by evangelisation programmes that are skillfully packaged.

In some cases, Carnival still follows the authentic Christian tradition in which the relationship between faith and fun is not only affirmed, faith and fun actually become community builders.

Families and neighbourhoods gather to celebrate, children participate in village Carnival practices safely and joyfully, there is wonderful pan music and people dine, dance and sing without compromising their faith, health or family commitments.

3) Choices

The spirituality of the relationship between faith and fun requires informed choices. The whole point of the Archdiocesan Values and Virtues programme is to provide the participants with the knowledge and skills to make those informed choices.

Motivation is absolutely important for Christian living. Therefore, prayer and prudence are necessary. Prayer is necessary because human nature needs grace to persevere in goodness. Prudence is necessary because evil can be packaged very attractively. The traditional prudential norm is “avoid the occasions of sin”.

Most people involved in a deep relationship with God can overcome temptation if they avoid the occasions of sin and are open to receiving support from other believers.

Conclusion

Try to remember, live and share the four points I have made in this Carnival column:
1) Humour and entertainment are powerful but subtle communicators of values;
2) Faith that does not become culture is faith not fully accepted;
3) The secularisation of history is dechristianising culture. Culture must be re-evangelised;
4) The relationship between faith and fun requires informed choices.

Have fun at Carnival as a believer!