Religion has nothing to do with poverty and inequality

I take exception to the statement, “Poverty and inequality are consequences of our cultural ‘fatal attraction’ to a religious addiction” (“Poverty, inequality consequences of Filipinos’ religious addiction,” Letters, 12/6/22). That is a flimsy logic. It does not necessarily follow that people are poor because they are pious or religious.

It is my view that culture of poverty and inequality subsist due to ill-conceived poverty reduction programs of the religious sects, public and private organizations, and the government. I guess they should stop implementing these programs because they make the people poor even more. How then should we tackle poverty and inequality? I suggest the public and private sectors should do the following:

1. Instead of the traditional giving of aid like cash or in kind-donations to the poor, why not develop their skills to make them “employable”; and,

2. They should create employment opportunities and income-generating activities for the skilled and qualified poor.

If our people are religious, it is because their faith gives them hope that they will have a bright future after they strive harder in life. When they keep pestering the government for aid, the government should not legitimize or validate their being poor by giving them the conventional cash assistance. Otherwise, this would create all the more a culture of begging and mendicancy in our society.

I long to see the day when those of us who live below the poverty line will not spend time waiting in line outside social welfare offices and offices of elected officials seeking financial assistance. I imagine that when that time comes, we will find ourselves inside chapels or churches thanking God for the gift of our skills, which make us qualified to work and pay our modest share of taxes to the government.

REGINALD B. TAMAYO,

Marikina City,

[email protected]