Rev Fr OC Lim and Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Dr Rais Yatim should be praised for their courageous and enlightened statements, respectively, regarding the use of Christian symbols and hymns mentioning the birth of Jesus Christ at the national-level Christmas open house do in Petaling Jaya on Dec 25.

Christians celebrate Christmas because of the birth of Jesus Christ who is regarded by all Christians and by many followers of other religions as well as either the son or a prophet of God Almighty.

Thus, to celebrate Christmas without mentioning and depicting the birth of Jesus Christ would be blasphemous not only to Christians who regard Jesus Christ as the son of God but also to Muslims, Sikhs and the Bahais who regard Jesus Christ as a prophet of God.

CFM general secretary Dr Hermen Shastri should ask for a common meeting with Lim and Rais to learn more about courage and enlightenment. Subservience to narrow-mindedness can only end in slavery and extinction.

The writer is the Konrad-Adenauer-Foundation's representative to Malaysia.