God-given right

Anyway, as I said, only roughly 10% of Malaysia’s population is Christian. Hence how can only 10% be right? Muslims make up more than 50% of Malaysia’s population. In a democracy do we not go on the basis that the majority is correct while the minority is wrong? Well, at least that is what many of you say judging by the comments you post in Malaysia Today.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Churches packed as thousands mark anniversary of the crucifixion of Christ

(The Star) - MALACCA: Christians here and across the country observed the most solemn day of the Holy Week Good Friday, which marks the crucifixion of Jesus Christ more than 2,000 years ago.

The 303-year-old St Peter's Church here saw a massive candlelight late evening procession steeped in tradition as thousands of pilgrims and devotees from Malaysia and Singapore converged here.

Besides taking part in the procession, which moved out from the country's oldest operational Catholic church into the streets for a third consecutive year, participants also witnessed the most sombre aspect of the ceremony where the Dead Lord statue resting on a wooden bier was carried amid the singing of mournful Latin lamentations.

The massive crowd with lighted candles made their way out of the church compound along the upper reaches of Jalan Tun Sri Lanang before turning into Jalan Munshi Abdullah.

With church servers and clergy heading the procession, it also made its way into Jalan Bunga Raya before heading back to the church after a 2.5km route.

At churches across the country Christians turned up in droves to attend the main mass at 3pm, the hour Christ died on the cross.

In Puchong, Selangor, devotees of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church braved the weather to witness a re-enactment of Christ's passion and death.

Members of the church's youth wing acted out the re-enactment, dressed in costumes and used make up to lend a sense of realism in portraying the solemn event.

Peter Thomas, 52, said the re-enactment was done annually to remind devotees of Christ's sacrifice for their sins.

“We believe Christ endured torture, ridicule and ultimately crucifixion to redeem our sins,” he said.

During the Stations of the Cross devotion, pictures in the church and the main crucifix at the altar were draped in purple cloth to symbolise mourning.

The cloth will be in place till Easter Sunday when Christians celebrate the resurrection of Christ.

Parish priest Father Leonard Lexson then led the congregation in a solemn mass, which was conducted in English and Bahasa Malaysia.

He said the whole theme of the Holy Week was to remember what Christ did.

“Before the death of Jesus, there was no meaning to death.

“But after this, the Lord himself gave meaning to it.

“His death brings new life to us all,” he said.

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About 10% of Malaysia’s population is Christian. While Malaysian Muslims are mainly Sunnis, the Christians are divided into Anglicans, Baptists, Brethren, non-denominational churches, independent Charismatic churches, Lutherans, Methodists, Presbyterian, Roman Catholics and so on. And some Christians regard the other Christians as not true Christians but heretics.

A fragmented minority population in Malaysia believes that Jesus Christ died on the cross and was resurrected after three days. Furthermore, a minority population in Malaysia believes that Jesus Christ is of a virgin birth. And a minority population in Malaysia believes that Jesus Christ is the saviour and that our salvation is through Him.

Do you want to know what I believe? I believe that the story of Jesus dying on the cross was fabricated to give Jesus an image of being special. I also believe that the historical Jesus and the mythical Jesus are two different people who were ‘born’ at different times. Furthermore, I believe that Jesus was not of virgin birth because, according to some stories I read, Jesus had elder brothers -- hence Mary was not a virgin when Jesus was born.

I also believe that Jesus was a Jew who was concerned with the deviant Jewish teachings and had tried to bring the Jews back to the right path but Paul later invented a new religion called Christianity and falsely credited that new religion to Jesus. And I further believe that Paul fabricated the so-called holy book called the Bible and that the Bible did not come from God.

Does my belief trouble you? Well, I have a God-given right to my belief and I also have a God-given right to tell you what I believe. I am not disparaging you or vilifying you for believing what I consider silly old wives tales and mythical stories. I am not even running down your beliefs even though I consider them silly. I respect your beliefs but that does not take away my right to tell you what I believe and tell you that I do not share your beliefs.

Some of you think that Islam is an evil religion. And you think so because you consider Islam a violent religion. Well, that is your belief and you are entitled to your belief. Actually, all religions are violent with a very low tolerance for those of other religions. It is just that in this day and age we can no longer kill people of other religions like we could in the good old days, say, of 500 years ago.

If not because of that we would still be killing people of other religions until today. In fact, in some parts of the world, wherever they are able to get away with it, the killing is still going on. Hence no religion believes in freedom of religion. All religions believe that killing in the name of God is allowed and in some cases even encouraged.

The Christians say that Islam is a violent religion only because the Christians can no longer kill the Jews and Muslims like they used to do in the not so long ago past. Anyway, did not President Bush attack Iraq because, according to him, God whispered in his ear and asked him to do so? And that was not really that long ago and the Americans are still in Iraq until today.

So spare me the holier-than-thou moralising. All religionists are the same. And don’t give me that lame excuse that that was a long time ago and is no longer so today. You mean God sent down the latest/amended version of the Bible/Qur’an in 2012?

Anyway, as I said, only roughly 10% of Malaysia’s population is Christian. Hence how can only 10% be right? Muslims make up more than 50% of Malaysia’s population. In a democracy do we not go on the basis that the majority is correct while the minority is wrong? Well, at least that is what many of you say judging by the comments you post in Malaysia Today.

Hence if the majority is correct and the minority is wrong, then the Muslims are correct while the Christians are straying up the wrong path. And the Christians should, therefore, abandon their misguided beliefs and come back to the right path, Islam. The minority should correctly follow the majority. That is how it works in a democracy where the majority rules and the minority are ruled and must bow to the majority.

This is also the same regarding the political culture of Malaysia. Since the majority are with Pakatan Rakyat then you, the minority, should also support Pakatan Rakyat. And since the majority believe that Anwar Ibrahim is the saviour of the country and that the country’s salvation lie in the hands of Anwar then all of you should also follow Anwar. The minority has no place in Malaysia and has no business in voicing out their minority views.

That is how it works.

And if the minority expresses anything opposed to the majority belief then we can disparage and vilify these people and heckle them and call them names. And this was what Zul Nordin rightfully did when he made fun of Hinduism, another minority religion in Malaysia. Zul was only doing what the other majorities in Malaysia are currently doing to the minority. So there is nothing wrong with what Zul did.

After all, in Malaysia, only the majority has the right to speak while the minority does not have that same right. And if you do not believe me then read the comments posted in Malaysia Today. There is enough evidence there to support what I say.