Please allow me the opportunity to proffer some of my views on the current debate on whether the name of 'Jesus' should be used or banned at the upcoming national Christmas party to be held in Petaling Jaya on Christmas day.

Let me first give you some background as to where my thoughts are coming from.

I was a practising Roman Catholic for years before I decided to join the Assemblies of God church (members of the Evangelical Church who believe in the literal translation of the Bible) where I worshiped for the greater part of my life.

Today, however, I just prefer to loosely call myself a Christian instead of aligning myself to any man-made religious institution. I think it will be helpful for both sides of the argument to first see the upcoming Christmas party for what it really is.

It is a government-sponsored party rather than a private or religiously-held one.

This means that the government will not only be responsible for paying for the food but whatever transpires at the event. Thus we have to respect the rules set by our hosts if we wish to attend their function.

Although Christmas is a religious occasion just like Hari Raya Aidil Fitri or Wesak Day, the event itself isn't one but rather more of a social occasion. Thus it should be treated strictly as a social event taking into full account the fact that not only will Christians be there but also people of all races and religions.

If the occasion were a religious or private event, then it would be a totally different matter.

It would help also if we could think of it as a great big Christmas party rather than a church service for Christmas Mass.

If our government authorities - who are Muslims, Hindus and others - are willing to participate in a Christian occasion and decide to keep their religious convictions at home, I don't see why Christians can't do the same too.

After all, there won't be any Bible reading, liturgy or Christian worship there, will there? These things can be reserved for private church services and Mass.

It's similar to going to public Hari Raya party and not have an imam present to preach (and offend) other religious groups. I have yet to go to a Deepavali open house do and have bhajans (religious hymns) or other religious music being sung to me.

For the Dec 25 event, perhaps the parties concerned can strike a compromise and sing only traditional carols instead of using modern-day versions which ultimate aim is to proselytise others. As Christians, I don't think that we need to pull Jesus out of our pockets every now and then to show the world that we are Christians.

In this respect, I think our Christian churches need to do some growing up of their own too. It would simply not be Christian, so to speak, if we did or said something that would offend people of other faiths.

As much as we may be unhappy about it, Christmas today doesn't only belong to church-going Christians. Christmas the world over has become a popular event shared with non-Christians as an occasion for gift-giving or for simply coming together to have a good time - minus the religious aspects.

So I say let's lay down our dogmas and differences and not lose this splendid opportunity given by our government to come together as true Malaysians in multi-religious Malaysia.