THERE WAS A TIME when it usedto be said, and not vigorously challenged, that Barbados was a "black country" and a "Christian nation", with such a blanket assertion, seemingly implying either that there were no other races or religious faiths on the island, or if they were, they did not merit serious consideration.

Were such a declaration made today, it would be challenged, and rightly so,since Barbados is now by all intentsand purposes, very much a multiracialand multifaith society with all of the multicultural traits that would naturally flow from a diversity of people living together in one space.

One example of this de facto cosmopolitan nature of modern Barbados which has been manifesting itself more and more in recent years, has been seen in the more robust and overt manner in which faiths like Islam and Hinduism have been marking their major religious occasions.

That such religious events as Eid (which highlights the end of the Islamic holy month of fasting Ramadan) and Diwali (the Hindu festival signifying the start of its new year) are now being given increasing publicity annually, can be seen to underline a number of possible positive factors about the Barbadian society.

One such factor could be that the believers and practitioners of what in the Barbadian context can be seen as minor faiths are so sure about their acceptance by the predominant Christian society, that they feel free to assert their principles and practices before the eyes of the rest of the nation, and therefore do not feel the need to be timid, or secretive about their beliefs and activities.

It could also mean that on the whole, the general pool of people in Barbados has been exhibiting greater tolerance and acceptance of the noticeable, but superficial differences among people of varied faiths, culturesand races, thereby contributing to the enhancement of our country's social maturity and stability.

But then too, such tolerance and acceptance have historically been generally associated with Barbadians over the centuries and might have in no small measure contributed to to the easy welcome and hospitality we extend to visitors, to the point where it is regarded by visitors as a positive national characteristic.

That is why we should not underestimate the beneficial effects of the publicity about Eid, Diwali and othernon-Christian religious activities.

For as Mahesh Mahtani, president of the Sindhi Association of Barbados, put it on the occasion of the recent Diwali: "Yes, we are all different and we should accept our traditions, know our heritage and maintain our unique culture, but we should also integrate ourselves into our society, learn its traditions and go forward with a new way of thinking.

"One that leaves behind the differences between us that cause conflict and realise that in the end there is only one race,the human race."

The nation's challenge is to be sensitive always to the obligation of ensuring that there is no slippage from this.