Facts On Methodist Religion

On the road to a failed "Islamic State"

By BOB TEOH

The Jais raid on DUMC last week signals Malaysia’s quickening slide into a failed "Islamic State"like Iran, Yemen, and Tunisia and the rest. Prime Minister Najib Razak must act firmly and urgently to assure non-Muslims that the ruling coalition is serious about protecting their constitutional right to profess, practise and propagate their faith. The commitment to religious freedom is a hallmark of a progressive nation; of what Najib says his 1 Malaysia is all about.

Therefore, the PM cannot afford to continue to remain silent on this affront by Jais. Islam may be a state matter. But clearly Jakim or the Islamic Development Department is parked right under the PM’s nose headed by a full Cabinet Minister. It can act swiftly if it wanted to in matters pertaining to Islam and even other religions.

For instance, when the Kuala Lumpur High Court ruled on 31 Dec 2009 against the government and allowed The Herald – a Catholic publication - to use the word Allah to refer to God in Bahasa Malaysia, it went into overdrive seeking ways to scuttle the ruling.

The government was initially indecisive in that instance. A church in Kuala Lumpur was subsequently torched so extensively that it was rendered useless following relentless public vilification of Christians by Utusan, the Malay language newspaper owned by Umno, as well as by Perkasa, a small ultra Malay right wing outfit under the patronage of former PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad. He declared Malaysia to be an Islamic State in 2001.

The raid by the Jabatan Agama Islam Selangor (Jais) or the state Islamic Religious Department on a fundraising dinner held at the Damansara Utama Methodist Church (DUMC) in Petaling Jaya cannot be described as anything but a sanctioned vigilante action. It is part of the continuing agenda to vilify and incite hatred towards Christians.

They came unannounced but prepared and accompanied by a media circus, their own enforcement officers and the Police. However, they did not have a search warrant nor any plausible explanation for barging in except that someone had made a complaint of which they did not produce details of it. Their suspicion was that the church was proselytising Muslims. The rule of law cannot be based merely on suspicions. There must be prima facie evidence.

Proselytisation has always been the bugbear used by extremist Muslim groups and the right wing in Umno to scare the Malay heartland into believing Christians are out to convert them by any means. And even to make Christianity into the religion of the Federation ludicrous as it may sound. But the opposite is true.

Guided Meditation | Religion Calendar For Saturday, Aug. 6, 2011

Special events

Augusta Addie’s Attic, a free clothing bank, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 9 Summer St. 622-2424. Hours: 5-7 p.m. Monday; 9 a.m.-noon Thursday; 1-4 p.m. Saturday. Clothing donations accepted 9 a.m.-noon Monday-Thursday in addition to the other open hours.

Augusta Every Day Basic Essentials Pantry’s new hours of operation, 1-4 p.m. first and third Saturdays of each month, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 9 Summer St. 622-2424. No eligibility requirements.

Bangor Saving Grace Thrift Shop, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, Grace United Methodist Church, 193 Union St. Entrance at the back door. Proceeds benefit church neighborhood missions. 942-8320.

Bangor Deeper Than Words, a weekly gathering for quiet prayer, guided meditation and Scripture study, 6:30-8 p.m. Thursdays, Hammond Street Congregational Church, 28 High St. 862-5448.

Bangor First United Methodist Church free community meal, 4-6:30 p.m. Thursdays, 703 Essex St. 945-9567.

Bangor Our Lady of Wisdom prayer group, 6 p.m. Tuesdays, St. Jude Chapel in the sacristy of St. John Catholic Church, 207 York St. 942-6941.

Bar Harbor Morning prayer, 8:30 a.m. Tuesday-Saturday; contemplative prayer, 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays in the library; Sunday Eucharists, 7:30 and 10 a.m., St. Saviour’s Parish, 41 Mount Desert St. 288-4215. StSaviour@roadrunner.com.

Belfast Artisans Fair on Aug. 5 and 6, at The First Church in Belfast, United Church of Christ, 104 Church St. 338-2282.

Belfast Concert by The Bayside Trio, 3 p.m. Aug. 14, at The First Church in Belfast, United Church of Christ, 104 Church St. For information on the concert, contact Ron Dow at 323-0186.

Belfast The Society of Friends to hold Quaker meetings, 10 a.m. Sundays, Waterfall Arts, second floor of 256 High St. 338-3080.

Belfast Toddlers’ Playdate fall season, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Wednesdays and Fridays, St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church, 100 Court St. 338-2412. www.stmargaretsbelfast.org.

Belfast Co-Dependents Anonymous weekly meetings, 6-7 p.m. Tuesdays, Unitarian Universalist Church, 37 Miller St. Donations accepted but not required. www.codependents.org.

Brewer Meditation and communion, 8:30 a.m.; main worship service, 9 a.m., First United Methodist Church of Brewer, 40 South Main St. 989-7310.

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