THERE is the new hazard against Muslims in Malaysia as well as the name is pluralism. No less than Prime Minister Datuk SeriNajib Razakhimself has flagged pluralism as an "enemy of Islam" as well as grouped it together with the alternative bad words, "LGBT" as well as "liberalism".
My Name is Khan promotional print (source: Wiki Commons)
Not to be outdone, someMuslims, who have been described as scholars, not long ago spoken the spread of pluralism in Malaysia as "worrying", as if it were the little kind of pestilence which indispensable to be controlled. Even renouned Bollywood star, DatukShah Rukh Khan, has been indicted of compelling pluralism by his rsther than inspiring as well as endearingmovie,My Name is Khan.
But usually what kind of hazard does pluralism poise to Malaysian Muslims? And if it's such the transparent as well as benefaction risk to the infancy of the population, what have been alternative nations, which also knowledge informative as well as eremite diversity, doing about pluralism which you may sense from them?
Pluralism 101
Just what is pluralism anyway?
According to Harvard University'sPluralism Project, there have been 4 components to pluralism. Diana L Eck writes which farrago alone is not pluralism. There needs to be an "energetic rendezvous with diversity" for pluralism to exist. "Today, eremite farrago is the given, though pluralism is not the given; it is an achievement," she writes, adding: "Mere farrago though real confront as well as relationship will produce augmenting tensions in the societies."
Second, it's not about tolerance, which is tenuous, though "the active seeking of understanding across lines of difference". Eck argues which tolerance "does nothing to remove the ignorance of the single another" as well as warns which in today's world, "our ignorance of the single an additional will be increasingly costly".
Thirdly, pluralism is not relativism. Rather it is the "encounter of commitments". What does this mean? It equates to which proponents of pluralism don't need to leave their identities as well as commitments behind. It's about "holding the deepest differences, even the eremite differences, not in isolation, though in relationship to the single another."
And finally, pluralism's substructure is dialogue. That equates to both vocalization as well as listening in the way which involves "give as well as take, critique as well as self-criticism" so which the routine can reveal both "common understandings as well as real differences".
More sheep than Muslims
Seen in this light, it's no wonder which institutions such as Harvard University in the US have embarked upon initiatives to promote, rsther than than reject, pluralism. Indeed, the proclivity for undertakings such as the university'sPluralism Projecthas been the radically becoming different eremite as well as informative landscapes which have emerged in the US since of immigration. The project's mission matter is "to helpAmericans rivet with the! realiti es of eremite diversity".
Helen Clark (source: Wiki Commons)
The US isn't the usually place in the universe where the primarily white, Christian race views farrago as the present which can be channelled for larger great by compelling pluralism. In the country where there have been likely some-more sheep than Muslims, Helen Clark's administration lent await to the plan by theNew Zealand Diversity Action Programmethat resulted in theStatement upon Religious Diversity. Among others, the matter "encourages preparation about different eremite as well as devout traditions, deferential dialogue, as well as positive relationships between government as well as conviction communities". And usually like in the US, New Zealand was spurred by the augmenting eremite as well as informative farrago arising from migration from Asia, Africa as well as the Middle East.
More Muslims than sheep
In Malaysia meanwhile, there have been clearly some-more Muslims than sheep. In fact, the Malay Muslim race in Malaysia is what the white Christian race is in countries like the US as well as New Zealand. More importantly, distinct the US as well as New Zealand, we'vealwayslived with eremite as well as informative diversity. Our society didn't unexpected see the dramatic change in demographics which led to adults feeling befuddled about the coming of mosques, temples, gurdwaras as well as churches.
Sheep (Todd Huffman | Flickr)
And yet, what do you do about the plurality? From prime apportion to so-called eremite scholars to Muslim girl groups, you hear the transparent as well as resounding rejecting of pluralism. Here's what they're observant when they cast pluralism as the new bogey in town: "No" to engagement. "No" to dialogue. "No" to active understanding. "No" to next to as well as deferential relationships with others.
In alternative words, "No" to what we've been historically as well as culturally since, during the very least, Malacca became the trade pier in the 15th century. And "No" also to what you have already achieved which developed countries have been usually right away perplexing to acquire. In fact, let's usually demolish the single of the bedrock of Malaysian life.
Seen in this light, you shouldn't be during all surprised which there were attempts to denigrate Datuk SeriAnwar Ibrahimthrough the placement of leaflets in Slim River this month which condemned the Opposition Leader as the believer of eremite pluralism. He's not the usually one. Two years ago,PASspiritual personality Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat was pounded during an Islamic seminar for in attendance the duty during the Buddhist temple.
Superiority over diversity
Opponents of pluralism declare which any try to recognize alternative faiths upon the turn personification field, even if it's the Muslim male lead marrying the Hindu inMy Name is Khan, is treacherous to Muslims. It's dangerous, they say, since it will undermine Islam by placing alternative religions upon an next to balance with Islam. In tangible fact, what the ! opponent s of pluralism have been observant is, it's descent as well as wrong to make all religions next to since Islam, as well as by extension Muslims, have been higher to all others.
What does this do? It sets the stage for the primarily Malay race in Malaysia, by virtue of the actuality which constitutionally they can't be anything else though Muslims, to be higher to as well as dominant over all alternative citizens.
Pluralism isn't the hazard to Islam since Islam, for example inSpainbetween the eighth to the 15th century, thrivedbecause ofpluralism. If pluralism is the hazard to anything, it's the hazard to the prevalence of the single race over all others in Malaysia. If everyone is next to in any case of faith, how afterwards can those who wish to see Malay-Muslim pre-eminence clear their prevalence over Malaysian political, informative as well as economic life?
Najib: Pluralism is against Islam (file pic)
The tragedy of this lies not in the actuality which this is happening in Malaysia, with the pithy await of the prime apportion himself. The tragedy is which while alternative countries grapple as well as pull upon the present of diversity, in Malaysia, there have been those who would malign as well as destroy it. In their tract for Malaysia, farrago is an inconvenience, as well as pluralism an evil against carrying the top hand. Indeed, if the single doesn't wish to share power as well as resources fairly as well as equitably between all citizens, what improved way to clear one's position?
Jacqueline Ann Surinwas never once dissuaded from her own culture as well as faith, or had her identity threatened, usually since she listened to the! azan, b urnt joss sticks during temples, dated the Muslim, watched the Hindu rite, attended the service during the gurdwara, or prayed in the Protestant church. Courtesy of Nut Graph
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