Religion is a monumental chapter in the history of human egotism - William James, American philosopher and psychologist (1842 - 1910)

Once not too long ago, a guy came up to me out of the blue and asked, "You a Christian or what?"

"I'm Catholic Christian," I answered, quite unfazed.

"Oh, no, no, no! Catholics are not Christians!" he retorted.

"Then I guess I'm an ... what am I then?"

"What?" he asked.

"Never mind," I said, walking away before he could pull open his Bible, presumably to show me extensive proof why Catholics weren't Christians.

Recruitment drive

In the mid-70s there was the I Found It! campaign, with the exclamation in all four languages printed in blue and plastered on almost every available space throughout the country, like election campaign flyers.

Acutely curious, I remember a Hindu friend and myself calling the phone number provided. A few days later two Christians from the then fledgling Assembly of God (now one of the largest Christian denominations in the country) came knocking at my door, Bible in hand, ready to recruit. They also paid a visit to my Hindu friend's household with the same intention.

I recall a furore in the newspapers sometime later objecting to the Malay version of the flyers because it enticed Muslims equally eager to know what exactly had been found.

Some Christians go about trying to recruit new converts with an approach better suited for insurance sales. My partner was looking for a tenant for her house a few years ago. A lady came to enquire. Amid looking around the house and negotiating rental, the lady casually slipped in a nonchalant, "So, would you like
to become a Christian?" I should have asked, "Would you pay double the rent if I did?"

Some church evangelisation teams even target the rich for conversion over literally poorer souls because it is believed a rich pagan, filled with gratitude at being saved, would donate much more money to the church once s/he is successfully recruited and converted.

Then there are those who pepper their every sentence with Praise the Lord! or it's equivalent, or insist on wearing their religion; or at least emblazoning it on the back of their vehicles as if boasting their affiliation will elicit awe from other drivers.

You're the devil incarnate

Many appear more demon-conscious than Christ-conscious - they see the devil everywhere and in everything; and go about breaking religious artefacts of their converts' former religion because these are deemed demonic.

Either by means of fear or guilt, religion's adherents believe that by repeating the rituals and requirements as prescribed, one would remain in favour with God.

One often is left with the impression that they are more interested in scoring bonus points with God, than with the souls of persons they have proselytised.

As Theodore Dreiser, American novelist, naturalist and editor (1871 - 1945) observed: Assure a man that he has a soul and then frighten him with what is to become of him afterward, and you have hooked a fish, a mental slave.

Each religion is portrayed as somewhat of an exclusive club, complete with member-get-member incentives and membership privileges: sign-up and you'll get a free ticket to heaven!. Sign up at any other club and sorry to say you'll burn in hell.

One club says only their tickets to heaven are valid, another says they have the final and therefore definitive revelation. And woe to anyone who questions the validity of these claims. Attempts at dialogue are also met with suspicion and intolerance.

The reasons for this intolerance are aptly described by Italian philosopher Errico Malatesta, in his landmark 1942 essay, Anarchy.

Malatesta's allegory spoke of a man whose limbs had been bound from birth, but who had nevertheless found out how to hobble about. The man through lifelong conditioning came to believe the very binds that bound him gave him his ability to move.

"Suppose a doctor brought forward a complete theory to persuade the man with bound limbs that, if his limbs were freed, he could not walk, or even live. The man would defend his bands furiously and consider anyone his enemy who tried to tear them off," Malatesta concludes.

In the end, we find ourselves blissfully hobbling in bondage, and isolated behind the high walls of our respective clubs, turning our noses up at the members of the other clubs that lie beyond.

And we prefer remaining behind these walls among our kind because we understand how sensitive those outside can be.

Religious algebra

And within each club there are further distinctions and segregations:because of language barriers, real or imagined, Catholic Church apostolates are formed along racial lines, inadvertently creating instant racial polarisation when these apostolates organise functions, courses or rallies.

The clergy are more proficient in religion, meaning the laity are unqualified to speak on the subject. Religion provides greater import to men over women. And the elders lord themselves over the youth.

If these inequities is not enough, at a certain Catholic church in Petaling Jaya, a clear announcement is made before communion, effectively warning non-practising Catholics to stay away from the Eucharist, as if stormtroopers would jump out from behind the altar and arrest them if they didn't.

These only serve to perpetuate the notion of first and second-class members of the Church.

In this post-9/11 world, organised religion is experiencing a huge revival. Organised religion has already weaved its influence over government policy-making. This will only lead to a further widening of the us and them chasm within each religious institution and among nations.

This is however, yet another milestone in humankind's evolution. There will come a time, I believe, when humankind will tire of the parent-child mentality of organised religion and so transcend it, and embrace a purer, holistic and inclusive form of spirituality.

But until then, are you a Christian or what?

ANEEL DAVID KANNABHIRAN is a Malaysian, committed to the reform agenda of various human rights and social justice issues including that within the various religious institutions.