The year of crucifixion

For those not in the know, Article 11 is the article in Malaysia's Federal Constitution, guaranteeing the right of religious freedoms to all. Yet there is another Article within that constitutions that state that being a Malay equals to being a Muslim. But this has been taken, interpreted around to say that any person who is not ethnically Malay but has converted to Islam (either by choice or because of parental "coercion") has no recourse out of it, unless they wish to be subject to the humiliation of apostasy under the law (and the law makes it hard for them to change their minds). Marriages with a Muslim in this country can only be made if the non-Muslim converts to Islam, regardless of other interpretation that allows a Christian and Judaist to marry a Muslim. Though of course, in the latter agreement, there is the thorny issue of what your children will be. While the liberals might say, let them learn the religion of both parents, the patriarchal precepts in both religion would prefer that the child follow that particular religion. And of course, as the law of the land gives the men the upperhand, usually, the child will follow the religion of the father. However, in Islam as practice in Malaysia, no marriages is allowed if the non-Muslim partner refuses to convert. Should the couple decide to defy the law and get married outside the country, their marriage is not recognised in Malaysia, which means they can still be arrested for khalwat (close proximity) or maksiat (sexual fornication) under the Sharia jurisdiction of Malaysia. So there.

The history of the Inter-Faith commission is basically to try to deal with the social conflict engendered by religious conflict, and also to deal with issues of greater religious understanding among the different adherents. It is unfortunate that many Malaysians, despite the so called "muhibbah" concept (racial harmony), all it takes is just a religious issue to give rise to fascist sentiments to take place. Even if one is to disagree that Huntingdon's theory of civilizational clash fit the larger picture of the world (and having read the beginnings of his book yesterday, I somehow could not help disagreeing that he has a point on the cultural divide), it goes in pretty well with the Malaysian scene, though there are many other factors which are unique to Malaysia that is not easily explained.

In going in the road show, the IFC proponents and campaigners are trying to introduce and explain the concept of what they are all about to as many Malaysians as possible, so that Malaysians can make their own choices, instead of having their choices dictated by self-appointed leaders. If you want to be pejorative about it, fine, call it propaganda. But it is not any worse than what a lot of religious fundamentalists do when trying to ply their creed. Many people, including myself, suspect, that the rising resistance against this Commission, are due to the lack of security in their own religion's ability to hold its own (which boils down to their own lack of understanding, despite being subject to years of teaching on their religions creed) as well as a fear of the lost of political status quo. If the US is moving towards unthinking democracy in many parts of its state, Malaysia has always practiced unthinking democracy, from the day of its Independence (a sad thing indeed).

While one might decry the fascism of the Zionist in the their dealings with their majority Muslim neighbours, it is unfortunate that the way things have become in this world, every Jew is considered a potential Zionist and every Muslim a potential timebomb. The voice of the bigots, the prejudiced and the extremists ring louder than that of the moderates and clear-thinking person, so much so that they create an image of an extremely unfriendly, patriarchal and repressive condition in religion. Sad to say, many religious adherents, regardless of their religion, has a strong bent towards this (I think psychologists once did a study on people with religious bent and what made them tick, and what made them such zealots) end. I understand this myself because I was once a religious fundamentalist at the very core. But the problem with religious fundamentalism in Malaysia (and I believe, in many parts of the world), is that those with tenuous understanding of the core principles of their religionn can be easily persuaded by those whom they hold up as the demagogue, whose views they follow without too much questioning, because these demagogues are the wise men, the "levites", the "ulamaks", the "minister", the "priest". The way Islam is practiced today, in Malaysia particularly (I do not yet have a strong basis to attempt a comparative study with Islamic practices in the other countries, though I am trying to learn up as much as I could), has the aroma of the Inquisition and the Catholic/dichotomy of Europe in the Middle Ages (perhaps even earlier) right up to the 17th Century. The real reason for the existence of such religions, to guide human behaviour and to turn humanity away from perversions (perversions defined by the standards of morality that humanity had arrived at), had been lost, as we indulge in a catfight over issues of fiqh and practices. However, I can understand where these people are coming from, schooled as I was, from a young age, on the similar importance exacted on practices (and I don't mean moral practices, but religious practices), doctrine and morality. Lo behold someone who does not conform to the strict path as set out within the narrowest of hermeneutics. With so many religion engaged in the struggle for the Human Soul, it is always easy to lose sight of the perspective of why is God allowing such a divide to take place in the first place. Can 1 Corinthians 12 of the Bible be used to explain "diversity in unity". No doubt Muslims are not mentioned in here (though the Jews are) because Islam was not yet in existence at the time this book was written. Many Islamic scholars concede to the shared tradition of the Jews and Christians, with that of the Muslims. Just that the interpretation have some variation, and that which comes last is accorded the highest place of honour (Jesus Christ by the Christians, Muhammad S.A.W. by the Muslims).

I have still a long way to go to understand all that is going on, but I hope to achieve a better measure of understanding as I grow older, should I still have time on this Earth. Or have I gone the way which Paul, the apostle of Jesus in the New Testament warned of

"Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit according to hte tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ" (Colossions 2:8). Is this what the Muslims fear as well? That the proponents of the Interfaith-Commission are wolves in sheep clothing? Even within Christian denominations, there are certain groups that do not recognise the other group, because to the former, the latter have fallen from the straight and narrow dictates of the Bible, using the verse in Revelations 21:18-19 as their justification

18. For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book [note that the book is in small letters in my translation, does anyone know the Greek word used?]: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book

19. and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

Now, is the book the Bible or something else? And if one goes back to the Muslims, could that had been their fear as well with regards to the Al-Quran? One will only know as one starts reading the Quran, and that is what I will start doing again.

First the Danish cartoon controversy, now Lebanon's bombing by Israel, US policy that sides with Israel, it is little wonder that the Muslims are feeling threatened from all side, with all that happening to them in the space of 6 months.

But going further, the strong tide of radicalism, in Christianity and Islam, had begun since the end of the Cold War, or perhaps even before, the middle of last century, and I suspect, the pinnacle of it all is still in the works.