Scripture readers: Why burn when you can learn?

While a rumoured Bible-burning event in Penang turned out to be a dud, about 40 people gathered at KLCC Park, Kuala Lumpur today to read various books - mostly religious scriptures and related books - as a sign of protest.

“It is a response to the idea of burning a book, specifically a book that is holy to a group of people,” said Centre of Independent Journalism executive officer Masjaliza Hamzah, who first mooted the reading event.

“Rather than burning, we should be celebrating, reading and enjoying books. We should be building our knowledge...

“For me, it makes sense that if someone wants to burn, then my response is going to read. If you are saying that you are burning the Bible, then I am going to read the Bible.

"That is the best way that I can counter what they are doing,” she said when met by reporters at the event.

Masjaliza had posted on her Facebook page on Jan 23 that she would read the Bible in the park and invited others to join in with their own books.

Her post was shared over 400 times as of noon today.

Counterpoint to ignorance

The event started at 10am with just three people, coinciding with the ‘Bible burning’ rumoured to take place in Butterworth.
 
However, the group steadily grew an hour later until it reached about 40, reading their books of choice under the tree while sharing food in a quiet, picnic-like atmosphere.
 
The event ended at noon without incident and passing police and security patrol personnel did not interfere.
 
Meanwhile, social activist Marina Mahathir (left in photo) echoed Masjaliza’s views, saying that it was “a great counterpoint” to the idea of burning books.
 
She was at the event reading Karen Armstrong’s ‘A Case for God’, which she said she had bought some time ago but had not the chance to read. She said she came across a passage that seemed apt for the occasion.
 
“One of the things that I have learnt is that quarrelling over religion is counterproductive and not conducive to enlightenment.
 
“It not only makes authentic religious experience impossible, but it also violates the Socratic rationalist tradition,” she quoted from the book when asked about the reason for her book choice.
 
She added that since the Quran is viewed as the final part of a series of scriptures of the Abrahamic faiths including the Bible, burning it is forbidden.

Bible burning ‘immature, savage’
 
Another participant, Jeremy Chin, who authored of the book ‘Fuel', was spotted reading a translation of the Quran at the event.
 
“I don’t think it would weaken me in any way as a Christian, but instead strengthens my position,” he said when asked about his choice.
 
He said he heard about the event from Marina yesterday and thought there was no better way to spend the Sunday morning.
 
“I am taking a stand against people who make threats to burn religious texts. In this day and age, that is very immature and even savage,” he said.
 
Besides the Bible and the Quran, other titles spotted at the event include ‘Reborn in the West’, ‘A Man’s Search for Meaning’, ‘366 Days of Wisdom’, ‘Policing Sexuality, Sex, Society, and the State’, and ‘Kant’.
 
When asked if she is worried that her bible-reading antics would draw the ire of religious authorities, Masjaliza, who is Muslim, said that reading the Bible was just like reading any other book, and through it, she could learn what inspires other people.

“So I am not worried. Other people may be worried for me, but I am not worried about my own faith,” she said.

Book reading in Penang too

Over in Penang, Low Chia Ming reports that 17 people held a similar gathering at the esplanade.

Among participants were actress Mislina Mustaffa who said reading in the park is a good practise but has yet to become a culture for Malaysians and it is sometimes even disallowed.

"Is good to let people know that others are doing this, and especially to respond to calls to burn copies of Bible," she said.

About 10 police personnel monitored and recorded the group without interference.

Before the event ended at about 2pm, Penang Facebook Association president Salleh Ismail approached the group and made several demands, but the group ignored him.

Salleh did drew attention from reporters who wanted to know if he was from Perkasa. He did not provide a direct response and left.