Recently, international tele-evangelist Benny Hinn created quite a stir by alluding to Prime Minister Patrick Manning (before his worldwide viewership) as “the most foolish man he ever met.” Beyond providing ready made picong capital to political detractors, the pronouncement and its context lend for interesting review.
In the case at hand, who is wise and who is foolish are ultimately relative designations dependent upon one’s interest. Just as beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, wisdom or folly is in the mind of the interpreter. Based on what has emerged to-date, I see aplomb consumer awareness exercised by the prime minister in what was in fact an indigenous decision making approach regarding a desired service.
Of course the PM has reserved speaking on the matter so all we have to go by is Mr. Hinn’s selective disclosure and Mr. Duncan’s (witness to the occasion) ambiguous commentary- which reading between the lines, appears to lend some corroboration to Mr. Hinn.
In pertinent part, it seems the PM (given the nature of his job) was on the market for a spiritual advisor and/or some high powered spiritual coverage- which to be fair, on the basis of anecdotal evidence surrounding predecessors and other high office holders in T&T (and I dare say across the Caribbean), does not appear ludicrous or farfetched.
Clearly, the PM had narrowed down his preferred service choices to Mr. Hinn and a yet unnamed lady. Presumably, they’d both earlier predicted his electoral victory; and the PM was now seeking something to separate their mystic prowess. He was on a search to decipher the strength and efficacy of the spirit that attended each as a basis for making his choice. What is enthralling about the PM’s approach, and so offensive to Mr. Hinn, is that the PM dared to exercise consumer choice in the matter- by setting up a high powered spirits showdown as a way of facilitating his final selection.
If you ask me, this has nothing to do with wisdom or folly but sheer consumer bravery, and true Trini idiosyncrasy. That he was willing to be an immediate witness/participant in such high powered spiritual drama/fireworks says something about the PM’s personal confidence and constitution-if not also his penchant for boyish mischief- which suggests the PM is a real trini to heart. In true trini style he set up conditions for a spark off/show down to determine whose spirit packed more power. Only a Trini will dare think up something like that. After all, if you’re going to have a spiritual connoisseur, you’d want to be sure you have the strongest spirit at your disposal and in your corner. Mr. Manning is to be commended. As far as I’m aware, he is the first high ranking public official to test the bona fides of our local obeah brand against the claims of globe trotting religious sycophants such as Mr. Hinn.
Regrettably we were robbed of a delectable revelation and high noon outcome in the spirit world- given as we now know, that Mr. Hinn backed out- electing instead not to be ‘touched’ or ‘tested.’ What is interesting is that as a bible scholar, Mr. Hinn should have known that Mr. Manning was just following scriptural advice that enjoins all spirits ought to be tested. It is also true (based on scripture) that when Jesus walked the earth he exercised authority over other spirits and gave his followers such dominion.
In other words, there was no need for Mr. Hinn to back out/back down from being touched or to become defensive/offensive in the process. The truth is, based on similar scriptural episodes, if Mr. Hinn had a superior spirit, that woman would not have dared to touch him. In fact she would have been begging to be taken out of his presence. His energy and virtue would have made her uncomfortable; desiring the nearest exit. Mr. Hinn’s now famous grand stand boast of having said “don’t touch me; nobody touches me” is no substitute for the genuine spark off that was supposed to have taken place were he the real McCoy. Of course, the opposite would have also been true- regarding the lady’s spiritual efficacy. In summary, they both appear to be hoaxes- devoid of authentic spiritual power and presence. Seems they both failed the interview. I could only hope Mr. Manning dismissed both as potential spiritual suitors.
Beyond Mr. Manning’s adroit set up of subjecting potential spiritual advisors to a rigorous consumer choice test, there is indeed the wisdom or folly question- but just in a more nuanced way than Mr. Hinn makes it out to be.
Firstly, had Mr. Manning selected Mr. Hinn to be spiritual advisor/purveyor, I guess Hinn would have conversely been boasting to the world how smart and wise T&T’s PM is to have selected him as spiritual insider, guide & counselor. Clearly Mr. Hinn’s test of another’s wisdom or folly is tied to his own sense of self importance and solipsism. This is easily read between the lines; and rightly, the Prime Minister has elected to ignore Mr. Hinn- except extend forgiveness.
Beyond Mr. Hinn’s immaturity, the bigger and more nuanced question facing the people of Trinidad and Tobago, and the Caribbean is this: is it wise or foolish for Prime Ministers or other high ranking public officials to seek spiritual advice/coverage from such providers? This is not an easily resolved question for many reasons; but let’s try.
- I think that most will subscribe to the view that like marriage and religion, seeking spiritual guidance/protection (from persons claiming to render such services) ought to remain under the purview of personal choice as long as:
- The public purse is not expended in such pursuits
- The quality of public policy/direction is not compromised in order to comply or align with one’s spiritually derived mystical whims/fancies.
- The public purse is not expended in such pursuits
- If my sense of the regional pulse is correct, it seems that in T&T and the Caribbean, we are still sufficiently sensitive and passionate regarding spiritual issues, that leaders who seek spiritual guidance/coverage are not likely to be viewed as negative or outdated, and therefore possessing a foolish leadership trait. As a rule, I also think the nation is sufficiently advanced to the point where although people expect leaders to be spiritually aware, they do not expect that awareness to become a fetish that clouds or determines public policy ventures and timing.
- Truthfully, A and B are not easily noticeable and/or practicable, given that actions by political executives are usually filtered by professional spin doctors adept at rationalizing away true causal factors in ways that are likely to make it difficult to determine whether one’s public policy directions are determined by one’s private spiritual consultations.
Ultimately though, I think one’s wisdom or folly in this regard will be tested at the polls- and the outcome will not be based on whether one has or does not have a spiritual consultant/protector- but by whether or not one’s public policy directions have made a sufficiently positive difference in the quality of everyday life experienced by our citizens; and also by whether or not one’s public leadership behavior has engendered a sustainable confidence and trust by the people.
Dr. Raymond S. Edwards
President/CEO, MOHDC
http://www.mohdc.com
Raymond Edwards, Ph.D. Organizational Psychologist & Minister of Religion: is an international development consultant and executive Leadership behavior specialist.
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