Laws are creatures of their time

7:11AM Mar 19, 2015

By May Chee

A Kelantan Umno assemblyperson said that non-Muslims should explain why they will not accept “Allah’s laws” but still want to use the Arabic name for God.

I wonder, as a lawmaker, which part of the following, he can’t fathom.

Freedom of Religion is enshrined in the Malaysian constitution:

(1) Article 11 provides that every person has the right to profess and to practise his or her religion and (subject to applicable laws restricting the propagation of other religions to Muslims) to propagate it.

(2) The constitution also provides that Islam is the religion of the country but other religions may be practised in peace and harmony.

I am a Christian, a Catholic to be precise, and I also call God, ‘Allah’, an Arabic name for God that predates Islam. This term is also used by the Babists, Bahais, Indonesian and Maltese Christians, Mizrahi Jews and Sikhs.

Would you, Kelantan Umno, find it funny if I asked you to explain why you will not accept, say, the Mosaic Law or Canon Law, etc, etc?

Some people appear to be like wise men who pretend to justify God, while forgetting the reality; projecting the widespread image of a believer who accepts with resignation, yet, without trying to understand.

Laws are creatures of their time; proper to the people and of value for a period of their history. We can’t hold on to sacred laws if and when they become oppressive, can we? We can't bury our heads in the sand or seek in religion, an evasion from family tasks and social duties, can we?

Shouldn’t religious organisations, or for that matter, any organisation, change and constantly adjust to new structures and developments?

I, for one, do not think that the law and its commandments have the power to renew the human person. Following the best rules is not central, in my humble opinion, but that we must constantly move ourselves to discover, meditate and understand the will of God in the events of our lives.

God also has sons and daughters among those who do not believe and I believe, He will judge them as He does for us, according to the path on which He has placed them.

God of all nations

Those of us who believe in a monotheistic God, a universal God, (at least, for me) believe that He is God of all nations and that He will not oblige us to give up our own cultures to live as others ( those who also deem themselves, believers) do.

To me, the divine way of restoring justice is not by condemning, but by saving, through love.

To me, the justice of God is a merciful intervention that makes us whole and, free.

To me, the mystery of salvation is not religious words or laws that refer to a violent God, but a God who conquers evil in such a way that those who never knew love will be saved, by love.

I believe that it's better for us to overcome common prejudices and respect the conscience of others.

I believe that no law or religious authority should be followed against our conscience.

I believe the service of love will make hearts agree when minds cannot come to an understanding.

I do believe in many things but the deal is this - I can't force them down your throat, Kelantan Umno, can I ?

Source: http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/292471