It is a pity that each time when there is a festive celebration there is a reminder by religious elites to the common ethnic Malay-Muslim masses that they should not be seen to endorse other religious beliefs by their presence.
The most recent one involves a Christmas celebration hosted by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government and attended by the Muslim members of the ministry’s staff.
Controversies over wishing Christians merry Christmas, where wishing is seen as endorsing a particular religion, have been brewing over the years.
One wonders if Muslims who are of various backgrounds and perceptions could be seen as endorsing the Christian faith just by using phrases like merry Christmas.
Even if there is an endorsement, it is about endorsing the freedom of religion in a diverse society, which is a Malaysian reality.
Some would say that controversies of this sort are due to an obsession with religion.
I disagree. Such behaviour exhibited by a certain political party and its allies is not about obsession with religion. It is about an obsession with power and control, using underlying fears and insecurities to whip up support.
- Sign up for Aliran's free daily email updates or weekly newsletters or both
- Make a one-off donation to Persatuan Aliran Kesedaran Negara, CIMB a/c 8004240948
- Make a regular pledge or periodic auto-donation to Aliran
- Become an Aliran member
Religion itself has various dimensions, such as conscientiousness, awe, sanctity, rituals and faith.
One can passionately adhere to a religion, but the real issue in the Malaysian context is not religion per se. Rather, it is about dealing with religious egos that take on a black-and-white approach in dealing with complex issues.
The religious ego is about the ‘I am right and you are wrong’ attitude, which is self-righteous and damaging as it is unable to see the good in others. In this attitude rooted in religious ego, politics takes on an exclusive character riding over the politics of inclusivity and moderation.
All religions have people who exhibit such behaviours, and it is vital that such flaws are brought out to open for dialogue where faith and reason become the ways to address obsessive religious egos.
The Association for Welfare, Community and Dialogue urges religious leaders of all faiths to reflect on why and how religion has been used in an egoistic manner, which is detrimental to the wellbeing of society.
Religion should be a transformative force in society, where the values of love and compassion are put into action. It should never be about power and control, which reside in the ego. – Malaysiakini
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
