In the last few days, I was in Mactan Island in Cebu, Philippines, for a conference on developing social democratic leaders within Asean.
Being the Philippines, Cebu was buzzing with the festive cheer as the Christmas bells were chiming in full flow.
Everyone was wearing a different kind of glow, compared to other, more “mundane” months of the year.
After the working trip was over and done with, I had a very interesting conversation with a cab driver on the way to Mactan Island airport.
He was steadfast in his belief that while he celebrated Christmas and is a devout Christian, it didn’t matter to him what belief a particular person had, as long as one lived a good life.
Essentially, religion is a private matter and should remain one’s personal choice.
It shouldn’t be under the watchful eye of anyone else, whether it is a particular government or one’s peers.
Intrigued, I decided to pose this question to another cab driver as soon I jetted into Kuala Lumpur on the way back home,
“Should religion be a public matter; is it even important to begin with?”
Ironically, this person admitted to being a church-going Christian and pointed out that those who do not visit the “House of God” were doomed to the fires of hell.
He lamented that other religions had flaws and that Christianity can re/direct one onto the right path.
I’ve met others who say the same about their particular religion; that theirs is the “right path” and everyone else is a “kafir” of sorts.
I grew up in a somewhat religious family who went by the book; mass on weekends with Sunday school a must, that it would be sinful to miss a day of obligation, and that all sins must be confessed to a priest for one to be saved.
What I found confusing was that people who went to church lived different lives outside the confines of the “House of God” they spoke about.
What they practiced and preached were like light and day.
The “holier than thou” attitude spread like a cancer and many people spoke in a manner which displayed that they knew God very well.
But that didn’t stop them from ridiculing their fellow human beings who chose to profess a different faith, or opt not to believe in a particular schooled religion in other cases.
However, should that make us any less human?
Walking around with a religious crusade is terribly hypocritical I think, if one isn’t able to treat their fellow human beings like human beings.
If every individual goes on a religious rampage – believing that only they are right – then we will be on a slippery slope to doom.
It would be pointless in celebrating Christmas if our thoughts are founded on trying to make a particular religion right.
There is no right religion to begin with.
Religion is said to have the power to unite. But it also has the ability to tear communities apart.
How we live our lives are more important, and if you believe in any religion – or don’t – that should be kept to yourself.
No brownie points in tattooing your religion on your forehead.
That’s why I choose to not get into the nitty-gritty stuff this Christmas and enjoy the wonderful fruitcakes instead.
Happy holidays! – December 23, 2015.
* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.
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