YOURSAY ‘What to do if they stick an unwanted Quran into my letterbox?’

'Quran for non-Muslims may threaten harmony'

David Dass: It is clear to all that there is a concerted move to convert non-Muslims to Islam. Non-Muslims will simply have to make sure that they and their children have a deep enough understanding of their holy books so that they will have a full understanding of their faith before making the decision to change their religion.

I know many Buddhists / Taoists and Hindus who know next to nothing about their religions. They know the rituals and little else. Many say that they are atheists or agnostics.

I think that it would be a good idea if all children were taught about the main religions of the world in schools. The objective would not be conversion, but to promote understanding and respect for one another.

It is important for each to know that other religions also promote love, charity, good deeds and thoughts - along with a profound concern for the afterlife. All of us believe that good deeds and thoughts are necessary, and bad deeds and thoughts will bring about horrible consequences.

It would also be good if all children were given the option of studying their respective holy books in school. This would reinforce the spiritual backbone of the people of this country.

It does not make sense to teach Muslim kids Islam, but ignore the spiritual welfare of non-Muslim children. The point is often made that mission schools did just that. Mission schools were established by Christian missionaries, who taught scripture to Christian children.

Government schools are not mission schools or religious schools. The taxpayers pay for these schools.

We have so much crime in the country. It may help for religious studies to be made compulsory for all, but each should only be taught the faith of their (parents’) choice.

Joe Lee: Malaysia has taken a leaf out of the Islamic State (IS) ideology - that is, to propagate the Sunni Islamic faith.

Now, if they stick an unwanted Quran into my letterbox, what should I do?

Do I (a) throw it into the rubbish bin; (b) shred it, or otherwise cut it up; (c) try to return it to the Islamic authorities, but how would I know which one; or (d) become a Sunni Muslim convert the next day?

Since (d) is highly unlikely, my other options will have offended the 1,001 Islamic departments or “NGOs” - all of which are easily offended by the slightest reaction.

This is another step towards ‘failed state’ status, a la Pakistan.

GH Porrig: If I don't want others to do something to me, I should not do that same thing to others. This is the famous age-old principle of reciprocity.

Ancient Egyptians had it written on the papyrus, "That which you hate to be done to you, do not do to another."

About the same time, Confucius in China taught, "Never impose on others what you would not choose for yourself," and the Greek philosopher Thales said, "Avoid doing what you would blame others for doing."

In the Bible, it was written, "Do to others what you would want them to do to you."

There is a hadith which goes, "The most righteous person is the one who consents for other people what he consents for himself, and who dislikes for them what he dislikes for himself."

I am sure that this principle appears in many other places and religions too. So, if I want to distribute the teachings of my religion to others, I should allow others to give theirs to me.

Bumiputhran: This is the first stage of ground preparation for mass conversion. Promulgation is the second stage, as it becomes compulsory for everyone to own and read it.

In the third stage, everyone must endorse and accept the substance.

Then for the fourth and final stage, everyone practises with the holy book dictates as everyone has endorsed the substance.

Touche: If Muslims can do that, why can’t non-Muslims print Malay bibles and give it to Muslims? No double standards, please.

Does this mean Malays are more superior (Ketuanan Melayu) than non-Malays, like the white supremacists (Ku Klux Klan) in the US over blacks?

So, are Malays / Muslims equivalent to the whites?

Fair Play: Like all other mainstream religions, Islam is a beautiful religion. The only problem here is that it has been politicised so much so, that all Malaysians see shadows when they are none.

Besides, unpleasant incidents reported at national schools would only go to create more tension amongst all Malaysians if this idea is pushed through.

LEF: I don't see how a translated version of a religious book can threaten harmony. All religious books are easily available - I have a few copies each from all major religions myself.

Read and make your own conclusions; read not, and suffer the ignorance of fools.


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