My multi-faith family

I always like to see my own family as a microcosm of the country’s larger society because we have members of many races and ethnicities as well as many faiths.

Everyone respects everyone else. All the major Malaysian religious festivals are celebrated by us together and with much joy and happiness.

Not only do we celebrate the festivals together, we also pay our respects and mourn together when one of us passes away no matter what religion he or she was.

And because of this, we understand each other very well, including each others’ faith. Not once has there been any fight, disagreement or argument because of religion in our family.

I cannot for the life of me think in good conscience that if I am a Muslim, I need to defend my religion by proclaiming publicly that my religion is the best in the world.

Having faith in a belief personally is fine and I have no problems with that. Because if that wasn’t the case, then I wouldn’t even be a Muslim.

The fact of the matter is that I don’t understand how there can be a double standard when it comes to people of different faiths in this country.

I cannot understand how a Muslim who calls for the burning of the Christian Bible can be allowed to do so because he is thought to be defending Islam.

What is the logic and rationale of defending Islam by burning another holy book? A holy book that even Muslims are required to believe in according to Islamic rule.

Or is this something where logic cannot be applied to (an argument that many extremists tend to dish out to other Muslims who try to rationalise things out)?

Here a wild thought. Maybe Muslims can better defend Islam by providing better and stronger education and intellectualising amongst Muslims so they understand their faith deeper?

Here’s another wild thought. Maybe Muslims can better defend Islam by trying to living a life that is as exemplary as Prophet Muhammad who promoted peace with the Christians?

And yet another wild thought! Maybe Muslims can better defend Islam by actually practicing Islam then just accusing everybody else of being infidels and apostates.

How do you expect people of other religions to be convinced that Islam is a good religion if Muslims are allowed to make threats towards those of other religions?

How can you expect the rest of the non-Muslim society to respect Islam if Muslims themselves do not show any respect to other religions?

Sometimes, not going on the offensive to be defensive is the right thing to do. Mutual respect, empathy and sympathy can bring much understanding and appreciation.

Maybe I’m lucky because I was born into a a multi-faith family and maybe many in Malaysia are unlucky to not have been born into a family like this.

And I’m sure many among my fellow Malaysians might throw accusations of liberalism and pluralism my way as if it carried negative connotations.

But if being able to live in perfect harmony with a family that I love dearly means being accused of all sorts of things, then it’s okay. I’m proud to be that way.

And as many Malaysians who disagree with me, I believe that there are many more who understands what I’m saying. And in them, I have faith that Malaysia will turn out alright.