"I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified." (1 Corinthians 2:2)

Life is indeed full of paradoxes. Take Malaysia for example, a land blessed with nearly all the major world religions: Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity (both Catholicism and Protestantism), as well as scores of others. But is the country very religious? Well, one only has to look at the pervasive culture of corruption, rampant gambling, shocking crime rates, or the maddening driving manner of our highway users.

Hmm, I am trying to be a moralist here, certainly not a religious one at that. I am only hoping to illustrate the fact that religion is no guarantee of social advancement or communal peace. What is more, in a multi-faith country like Malaysia, handling religion is a tricky business.

Down through the years, the powers-that-be have been jealously guarding the cardinal dogma of their legitimacy to rule, packaged as 'power-sharing formula' or, as a seasoned mainstream scholar will say, 'consocialism'. If one thinks this only applies to ethnic relations, then one is seriously wrong. In fact, this twisted faith in consocialist politics is very much alive in Malaysia's religious communities as well.

I would contend that, in reality, religious consocialism in the context of Malaysia is largely based on compromise and concession mostly by the non-Islamic faiths, and it appears that many have accepted that such is the modus operandi in Malaysia, and one would do well by not rocking the boat.

The authorities, eager to portray Malaysia as a peace-loving and harmonious land, have been working profusely to convince the world that the country is a model Muslim nation, as the fear of faith-based terrorism looms large by the days.

In Malaysia, the elite-knows-best culture has so successfully permeated our minds that the people hardly challenge any of the good intentions of the state, even if it is strewn with potential problems and risks. The authorities have also done a brilliant job at co-opting the so-called social elites, many of them being Christian, with whom to drive their respective socio-political agenda.

Dressed for the window

Seen in this light, I was least surprised at the enthusiasm of the massive turnout by Christians at the Christmas Open House hosted by the federal government for the past few years. Many sincerely and genuinely took part because they were proud that Christianity was well represented and respected in a predominantly Muslim country, although I would argue they were ignorant of the irony that the protagonist of the event, before Abdullah Ahmad Badawi took over the leadership, was always Dr Mahathir Mohammad, not Jesus Christ.

In short, all religions in Malaysia have been traded off to some extent under the encroaching political culture, and the scenario would not be very different if the faith-obsessed PAS came to power. Instead of respecting the essence of the faiths, the state is more interested in turning the religious calendar into a cultural one, still hoping to window-dress to the outside world that Malaysia is deeply and diversely religious.

I remember attending the 7th World Chinese Evangelical Conference back in July 2001. Ng Yen Yen, then deputy minister of culture and tourism, was invited to speak at the closing ceremony. I never questioned Ng's credentials as a Christian, which I believe are as private as one's inner thoughts. But the fact that she went to considerable lengths to explain to the audience, made up of Chinese Christians from around the globe, the achievements of the Malaysian government in securing communal and religious harmony came across to me more political than religious. I would have been glad to hear her views on social justice from a Christian perspective.

And the Christian leaders were demonstrably honoured by the presence of a high official from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism (bring in more tourists, you Christians!). What remains puzzling to me still is that, while Christians in Malaysia are anxious to be seen as politically neutral, many of them are in haste to invite government ministers to grace their events. Yes, one hardly sees an opposition figure around on such occasions.

Fear and comfort

Perhaps Malaysia is a relatively more prosperous country with a sizeable middle class, which has in one way or another fostered the culture of fear and comfort a contradiction in terms, yes, but it is alive and kicking. Little wonder that the church establishment watched with caution and angst the reformasi movement a few years ago. I don't blame them, because we have been taught to 'work within the system' and reminded time and again that 'confrontation is never our way of life', but consultation is.

So, to be invited to a government-sponsored consultation on socio-religious issues would be seen as an honour, while for a Christian to join a street protest would be utterly irresponsible.

And you think this phenomenon is only peculiar to Malaysia?

Jim Wallis, the founding editor of Sojourner magazine and a Christian activist in the United States, cannot be more succinct on what he has observed in his own country,

"Most religious leaders would rather be invited to testify before a Congressional committee or have breakfast in the White House than be arrested for protest outside on the street."

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a Christian martyr, once wrote that "when Jesus calls a man, He bids him come and die". He did not just say it, but lived out the words of his own by leaving behind a secure and comfortable teaching life at the Union Theological Seminary in New York and returned to his native Germany, then engulfed in Nazi insanity, to confront the evil regime. He paid with his life on earth, but won an eternal one in return.

This radical statement and act of Bonhoeffer must be shocking to many of us who are so cocooned and pampered, for we were all brought up believing that God promises a good and prosperous life.

So, why the knee-jerk reaction to the fact that some Christian leader took the liberty to leave the name of Jesus out of a gigantic Christmas do bestowed by the authorities?

To all of you who care about this world today, a Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year.