Religious dogma parallels religious hypocrisy

 

Ramadan and Lent coincide this year.

As Muslims enter the third week of Ramadan, Christians are entering the second week of Lent – a 40-day period of reflection, representing Jesus Christ’s 40 days in the wilderness, leading up to his death on Good Friday, and resurrection on Easter Sunday.

Both traditions call for voluntary self-denial from food (fasting) and other earthly habits (like “doom scrolling”). The goals? To re-centre one’s body, mind, and soul on prayer, discipline, spiritual growth, and compassion.

As the Vatican noted in its message, the alignment of both religious calendars should spur Muslims and Christians to work together for “inner transformation”. Which, we hope, will lead to world peace.

That’s the platitude repeated with each passing year. Our world is as conflict-ridden today as it has been for centuries.

Admittedly, I don’t deny myself a good meal and a drink. But I do read the Lent daily devotions that arrive in my inbox. I tried fasting once. I failed.

A Catholic church in Malacca

That was during Ramadan at a media conference in Beijing many many years ago. I was with a Muslim friend. Out of solidarity (and curiosity) I followed his fasting schedule. But under Beijing’s sweltering sun, I caved. A can of cold Coke was too tempting.

As my friend said in good jest: I “succumbed to the temptation”. Fasting, I learned, isn’t just about managing one’s hunger. It’s a spiritual slog, a mental marathon.

He wrote me recently: “While it’s easy to stay away from food and water (during Ramadan), it can be difficult to cleanse one’s soul, that is, to have clean thoughts about fellow beings, be patient, no backbiting, and forgiving towards people.”

That’s the real motive for fasting.

All religions preach fasting as a path to self-discipline and spiritual clarity. Yet too often, dogma – and hypocrisy – drown the message.

For example, Jesus taught: “When you fast, don’t look gloomy like the hypocrites… wash your face, so others won’t notice.” (Matthew 6:16–18)

The Bible

In other words: Don’t perform piety for cheap claps. Fast in the right spirit, not for the sake of being seen by others. The Bible narrates many cases of religious hypocrisy and pithy piety.

Jesus called the Scribes and Pharisees “hypocrites”. They were big on outward observance of religious laws but small on the core values of justice, mercy, and faithfulness. He also highlighted the hypocrisy of those who prayed outwardly for attention rather than inwardly for a genuine connection with God. (Matthew 6:5-6)

The apostle Paul likewise confronted Peter for his hypocrisy. He told of how Peter initially ate with the Gentiles but later withdrew from them when other Jewish Christians arrived, demonstrating the lack of consistency in his beliefs and actions. (Galatians 2:11-14)

Jesus’ brother, James, emphasised that faith without action is dead. He highlighted the hypocrisy of those who claim to have faith but do not demonstrate it through their actions. (James 2:14-17)

Hypocrisy is as old a human flaw as hatred is a destructive force in our nature. Hypocrites seek to cover their flaws. They make excuses rather than acknowledge in humility their shortcomings. These human flaws are recorded throughout the Bible and Quran.

A time of fasting, not slapping

Fast forward to March 16, 2025 – a non-Muslim was slapped by a Muslim elder for eating at Family Mart during Ramadan. The elder has since been charged at the Johor Bahru Magistrate’s Court under Section 323 of the Penal Code.

Here’s the irony. The Quran that urges fasting also warns: “O believers! Stand firm for Allah and bear true testimony. Do not let the hatred of a people lead you to injustice. Be just! That is closer to righteousness.” (5:8).

Yet here we are - moral policing masking as piety.

Slapping incident in Johor on March 16

The victim, presumably a Christian judging by his identity “Elijah” on the platform X – incidentally also shows the empathy of sections of the Muslim community. As a writer-friend, Mustafa K Anuar, succinctly noted: Ramadan is “a time of fasting, not slapping”.

This incident, like so many in the past, has poked at our sensitivities: race and religion. Religious leaders, Christian and Muslim alike, do tend to moral-police and judge others while sidestepping their own failings.

The result? Religious dogma exposes our hypocrisy. It taints our human decency.

Jesus taught us to love our neighbours as ourselves. The Quran echoes: “Good and evil cannot be equal. Respond to evil with what is best, then the one you are in a feud with will be like a close friend.” (41:34).

Religious dogma, when taken to the extreme in slaps and verbal abuse, distorts these truths. It reduces faith to tribal performance - self-righteousness cloaking a rotten core.

The Johor slapping saga isn’t just about an elderly Muslim’s rage. It is a symptom of a system that prioritises rules over reconciliation.

So, here’s what to think about, as we go about doing what we are taught to do over Ramadan and Lent: What if Muslims and Christians spend less time judging others and more time living out the core values of our respective faiths?

Fasting is more than a religious ritual. It’s a mirror. A time to take stock. Do our attitudes and actions reflect our prayers and supplication? - Mkini

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ERIC LOO is a former journalist and educator in Australia and a journalism trainer in parts of Asia.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.