Faith and reason go hand in hand — Ronald Benjamin
MARCH 18 — The government decision to release the Malay version of the Bible with conditions such a stamp with the Home Ministry seal and a serial number reveals the inner character of a government that is beginning to lose a sense of decency and civilised behaviour towards Malaysians of the Christian faith.
This is the reason I have been always sceptical of the 1 Malaysia slogan which is crafted through a political conceptualisation with an electoral strategy in mind, to win back lost votes, but beginning to lose its credibility due to overbearing, deceptive public relations exercises, besides failing its stress test on issues of great universal significant such as freedom of religion.
Freedom of religion is not merely the right to freely practise a religion, it is a dignified right of individuals to search for spiritual truths and meaning of life without restriction and boundaries. Search for the truth and making decisions on faith are a fundamental human right.
History would attest that the control of people’s minds would always be counter productive because we live in a complex world where individuals, with various degrees of cultural upbringing and thought patterns that are evolving, are the decision-makers of their own destiny.
People cannot be restricted to any ideology because God is beyond rigid ideology. People can be persuaded but not forced into submission especially if it is related to faith which should be chosen in freedom.
It is puzzling that the ideological religious establishment in Najib’s government has little sense of conscience and truth while they call themselves religious. This makes the government less credible to speak about Muslim rights in other countries.
Just imagine the type of demonstration that would have taken place if this issue of dictating the labelling of a religious book had taken place the other way round. It is worthy to note that an Islamist party such as PAS has taken a broader view of this issue.
Solutions to religious disputes would take place when faith and reason are connected, where the self evident truth of do unto others what you want them to do for you is present.
In the Malaysian context the beauty of religion has been diluted to ethno-religious, ideological dominance and political construct that makes a broad dialogue of reason an uphill battle. It is hoped that an amicable solution to this crisis can found with humility and reason.
* Ronald Benjamin reads The Malaysian Insider.
* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication. The Malaysian Insider does not endorse the view unless specified.
Source: The Malaysian Insider
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/breakingviews/article/faith-and-reason-go-hand-in-hand-ronald-benjamin/
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