30-Metre High Jesus Statue Built In Indonesian City, While Sabah Mufti's Fatwa Declares Buddhist Statues Haram
It is an excellent example of the contrasting levels of religious tolerance between the world's largest Muslim nation, Indonesia and one of the smaller, albeit increasingly fanatical 'Islamic' nation, Malaysia. While our giant neighbour has no insecurities or fear in allowing non-Muslims to erect statues even though idol worship is forbidden in Islam, our inferiority-complex-ridden Malaysian religious officials probably in connivance with Umno politicians with an eye on Malay votes have displayed a type of religious intolerance which must earn them a place with the more radical followers in other parts of the world.That predominantly Muslim Indonesia has allowed a statue of Jesus Christ, which has been said to be one of the tallest in Asia, is indeed a remarkable instance of tolerance which can never be expected to be emulated here. Ironically if at all sanctioned it would be PAS-ruled Kelantan which may allow such a statue.
The Mufti of Sabah on the other hand in his considered opinion and with wisdom declared that that all Buddhist statues are haram! With that fatwa the Thean Hou Foundation was forbidden from erecting the Goddess of the Sea statue in Kudat and was ordered to halt all work although they had already brought in the statue and work had progressed halfway.
Compare the broad-minded Indonesian response and the talibanic Malaysian variety from the links below:
1) One of Asia's tallest Jesus statues graces Indonesian city.
2) Read of Malaysia's worrying religious intolerance HERE.
Islam Hadhari anyone?
Image - Source
Labels: Religious Intolerance
posted by The Malaysian. at 12/12/2007 04:40:00 PM
4 Comments:
Hadlari is actually a deviant and even more extreme form of Wahabbism, as practiced in Saudi Arabia, where rape victims are punished for being raped
Hey there.. sorry for the long absence, but you're still my daily read, worry not!
I've always been of the opinion that if it weren't for the insurmountable corruption and inefficiency that they experience, Indonesia would be leaps and bounds beyond what glories we Malaysians can dream to claim.
Truth be told, if it came to the point where I were forced to bid Malaysia farewell, Indonesia would be a strong contender for where I would head to. And what you've posted is one of the primary reasons why - religion is allowed to be a personal commitment, rather than progressively becoming a monolithic state-funded bureaucracy like it is fast becoming here.
Sure, there are those clusters of rotten apples over there, too, but they do not represent the views of the generally more rational and liberal people of Indonesia. IMHO, anyway.
And the RPK post? Boy, it more than made up for the disappointing selection of horror flicks Astro showed this past Halloween... Scaaaary!!
PEACE...
Sanity and good sense in Indonesia, Insanity and irrationality in Malaysia.
The Mufti of Sabah and the Mufti of Perak are examples narrow-minded and fanatical Muslims who are distorting the religion.
This is a good example of how Islam is misused by those in the political hierachy of religion in Malaysia.
I would not be surprised if the Mufti of Sabah (and some other states in Malaysia) branding the practices of their Muslim brothers in Indonesia as somewhat heretic.
If Islam does not allow idol worshipping amongst their followers, that is fine with me. However, the Malaysian Constitution allows for freedom of religion for its citizens, so how can the Mufti of Sabah deprive the followers of another religion their constitutional right ?
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