I had a good laugh yesterday, as I read a story in the STAR online about a woman who was arrested during her noisy preaching session outside a courthouse. Long time some a dem people fi get arrested.

According to the story, the incident happened last Friday. The lady was reportedly delivering a loud, spirit-filled sermon in the courtyard of the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate Court, and an officer from the Island Special Constabulary Force approached her and asked that she desist from behaving in a boisterous manner, and requested that she leave the court compound.

Well, yu tink she followed the officer's instruction? Follow wha? Him bright fi come talk up to the Lord's anointed and rude fi come ask har fi leave when she's doing the work of the Almighty. She allegedly proceeded to shout at the officer, "Yes Jesus, Yes Jesus, I don't tell men my problems, I tell it to Jesus!"

Well, apparently that drew the attention of some other officers, and the preaching sister was then physically removed from the compound to the sidewalk even while she was still preaching. That's what I call a moving sermon! And while dem a move har, she a rebuke dem. "The blood of Jesus is against you and I rebuke you" was her proclamation to the officer who girthed her by the waist and transported her from the space.

I value religious freedom. I feel, though, that religious freedom also includes the freedom to not be religious if that's your choice. Don't get me wrong, is long time now since I attended church, but I believe in the Almighty and I have a healthy regard for all forms and manifestations of human spirituality. I also genuinely admire people who choose to share the gospel and spread the word of God.

Jamaica full up of church

However, as the bible says in 1st Corinthians chapter 14 in the 40th verse, 'Let everything be done decently and in order'. And good people, having spittle fly at you as a preacher bombards your eardrums at close quarters while you're sitting or standing in a packed bus on the Kingston roads is not exactly doing things decently and in order. Jamaica full up of church, man! We have access to all kinds of religious TV networks and Christian radio shows. If people want to hear preaching they know where to go. So unwarranted noise and unwelcome sounds should not be imposed on people like that under the claim that it's preaching or religious teaching.

Look here nuh, I absolutely abhor insensitive people who feel that it's OK to assault the ears of others with their personally preferred choice of noise. I hate it. Whether it's the neighbour's radio, a passing car stereo or a dance down the road, noise nuisance is noise nuisance. Nobody should be forced to listen to anything that they don't wish to hear. And I don't care if some of my overzealous Christian friends want to brand me as a heathen, but that's how I feel about those street-side preachers and bus-riding evangelists who believe that because they're sharing the word of God - as they see it - they are therefore free to violate the noise nuisance act with impunity. Well, noise is noise and nuisance is nuisance, so yes, I say lock up dem self-righteous backside!

Yes! Pray for my soul and box-miback@hotmail.com

Look here nuh, I absolutely abhor insensitive people who feel that it's OK to assault the ears of others with their personally preferred choice of noise. I hate it. Whether it's the neighbour's radio, a passing car stereo or a dance down the road, noise nuisance is noise nuisance. Nobody should be forced to listen to anything that they don't wish to hear.