The "Threat of Christianisation," a topic that is set to be lectured on at a teachers' conference in Johor next month. This lecture is not only supported by the state education board, but also by the Johor state government. This has sparked tension within the Christian community, who I'm sure is asking, "What on earth have we done wrong?"
I'd like to outline how the Muslim community is at fault here.
A common thought in the world of psychology is that the mind will see what it chooses to see, and is not foreign to fabricating the truth to fit its delusions (sounds a bit like Ibrahim Ali, doesn't it? That's a scary thought). The mind is also a sneaky bugger, because it'll find scapegoats to absolve it from blame. This is why the "Threat of Christianisation" exists; It's a scapegoat to hide the insecurities of the Malaysian-Muslim (or should I say, the Malay-Muslim) community about their faith.
I'm not saying that the Malays are questioning their faith. However, their hold of the faith is questionable. These are people who would, if asked to declare themselves non-Muslims under duress, call themselves Christians. Hindus. Buddhists. Even Jews, if you're pointing a ridiculously large gun at them. These are people who would, without a shadow of a doubt, consume alcohol and pork if it meant getting into a crowd that can fast-track them to riches and prominence.
The only threat, really, is the threat of Malay-brainwashing, nothing else. This is an issue brought upon themselves.
Here's another angle. Anyone notice how an imam, or bilal will very quickly chase out a vagrant that wanders into a mosque, seeking shelter? I've been in this situation once before, after a night out I'd rather not recount. I had sat myself on the steps leading up to the prayer hall, not even in the mosque itself, after having a car drive through a puddle and splash me as I walked along the pavement. The mosque in question had a security guard, who very promptly told me to leave.
No one loves exclusivity more than a Malay. No really, take it from a fellow Bumiputera (who spends his days convincing people - and himself - that he's Indian). And this is why I believe the "Christian threat" was brought upon ourselves; how many times have we heard stories of non-Muslims being excluded from events? So what if they're religious events; I've sat in during Sunday mass (and I don't have urges to convert, either).
It's very simple. The Islam taught by the Prophet Muhammad PBUH was one of love, and inclusivity. If you're familiar with the story of the Prophet and his Jewish neighbour, you'll understand what I mean. Yes, the Prophet was a man of war; He waged many an epic battle in the name of Islam. But to those who did not raise a sword toward him, he embraced with kindness and love. And that is why Islam grew to be the colossal empire that it is today, the empire that continues to grow at the fastest recorded rate in relation to other faiths. The Islam taught today in Malaysia bares little to no relation to the Islam taught by the Prophet. Instead of including, and teaching within the bounds of kindness, we seek to exclude, alienate, and ostracise those who do not conform to the very rigid stereotype of 'a good Muslim.'
The "threat of Christianisation" is an issue created by Muslims, to incite fear within Muslims. Now where's the productivity (or the 1Malaysia) in that?
We need to stop propagating, and start educating. I believe that the Malaysian public, given the right tools, can make an informed decision about themselves, and their choices in life. These tools are exactly what the Government does not provide in the federal education syllabus, but that's a story for another day. The fact of the matter is, we should be looking at ourselves, noting our flaws, our mistakes, and working on them, rather than blaming innocent bystanders for our shortcomings.
The only threat here is the threat of the Bumiputera, nothing else.
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