Today those who subscribe to the doctrine of faith by force belong to that pernicious group that we know as terrorists. Faith by force seems incongruous with the concept of Islam Hadhari, the prime minister's idea of Malaysian Islam, as Sky Kingdom followers facing persecution and prosecution will attest.

Ayah Pin, leader of the Sky Kingdom cult and three of his followers, all Malays, tried to renounce Islam but were instead charged with apostasy. His teachings, rather syncretistic in nature, appeal to thousands of Malaysians and foreigners. Religions that promote an all-encompassing form of faith will always find ready takers, though a closer examination of distinct religious beliefs expose their contradictions and defy any logic of unity.

While religions bear certain similarities, they are fundamentally different, even oppose each other in cardinal doctrines. It is folly to think all religions are the same or compatible. God can't be the architect of confusion or illogic. For example, some religions teach there is no Creator God, others do, still others advocate millions of gods. Someone's got to be right and others wrong because the truth is out there. Who has the divine truth is the age-old subject of contention.

That is why religions are popular. They seem to give answers to the proverbial questions such as "What is the truth?", "What is the meaning of life?", "Is there life after death?", although for some the answers may be tentative. Ultimately it is a question of faith. And people do change their beliefs.