your say 'Islam is strong and robust and does not need these religious zealots to ‘protect' it. It has outlived them for many hundreds of years.'

Christians reject 'charity-for-conversion' claim

Not Confused: As a Christian, I feel sorry and somewhat embarrassed for the majority of right-thinking and intelligent Muslims in this country.

At every turn, the so-called guardians of the Islamic faith rush around like headless chickens on totally unnecessary missions, trying to stop the devout followers of Islam from converting to Christianity.

These religious upholders of the Islamic faith (read: bigots) see nothing but suspicion and evil in anything and everything. If this is what Islam teaches, then I would not be surprised if its followers want to desert it.

However, Islam is strong and robust and does not need these religious zealots to ‘protect' it. It has outlived them for many hundreds of years and will carry on regardless of their idiotic behaviour.

YF: Do Christians pay people to be converted? I became a Christian out of my own free will and nobody paid me. So what is all this nonsense accusations?

Is financial aid to non-Christians deemed as payments for conversion? You got to be kidding me, right? Me and my fellow Christians have given financial aid to non-Christians even Muslims yet never have we demanded that they become Christians.

Christ called us to freely give - the parable of the Good Samaritan is a good example of someone of another faith is more charitable and loving than people of their own faith (see Luke 10:25-37).

So for those who make such baseless claims, I doubt you know the truth of the matter. You seem to only see what you want to see, hear what you want to hear. Fiction is not a fact, and if one is biased, one can turn such fiction into fact. That is the problem with Jais and their like.

Malayamuda: Some of us get people knocking on our gates to spread the "good news". Is that fiction or fact? Render help without ulterior motives?

Gokula Krishnan: As much as this is politicised, there is some truth to this. I don't know about Muslims being converted through charity but the activity of Hindu conversion to Christianity through charity has been happening since the 80s.

I am not here to say if that's right or wrong. Religion is good business, always has been and I have seen with my own eyes such activities happening in Klang and the rubber estates. Good for the ones who have converted - if that gives them better future, why not?

Is this morally right? I don't know. I am not sure if the Christians have any rules against this type of conversion. If going by history, wars were fought and people slaughtered in the name of religion. So for a change, charity for conversion doesn't seem that wrong, is it?

Malaysian Born: This was a function carried out in public for the purpose of raising money to help people suffering from AIDS.

For the Jais team to raid a church property without a warrant is extreme and would in most civilised countries be sensitive, and not a decision that should be taken based on frivolous innuendos and rumours.

The other thing that I find puzzling is the regular complaint about insulting Islam - what should we do in this case to these characters who disrespect other religions under the guise of some trumped-up and unprovable accusations?

The comment made in government-controlled media linking Christian charity to proselytisation is contemptible. So every time we hear Muslim prayers at government functions, we should consider it an attempt to convert us to Islam?

Borneo Son: Charity has been the hallmark of Christianity throughout the ages. The first great commandment that Jesus taught is to love God with one's entire being and the second is to love one's neighbour as oneself.

Christian missionaries were in this country for over 100 years carrying out social work through schools and hospitals, and there was no compulsion for people to convert. Otherwise, many of those who attended missions schools would have become Christians.

Regarding "good news", when you know and truly believe you have something good, you definitely will want to share it with others, but it is up to the recipient to decide whether to accept it or reject it. That's what freedom is.

Not Convinced: Perhaps they should close down all the Christian schools in Malaysia.

Didn't Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, Prime Minister Najib Razak, Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein and Bank Negara governor Zeti Aziz all went to school at St John's Institution?

Housing developers may be asked to provide mosques

Dood: Why not just force housing developers to build mansions for Muslims at heavily discounted prices too? Something like 99 percent discount would work.

The fact is, everything comes with a price. Do you think the developers will happily absorb the cost of building such facilities? No, the cost will simply be footed by the buyers. And why is it that we need discriminatory rules that some people must get certain benefits by virtue of race or religion?

Quigonbond: If the developer is required to bear the cost, then it should be a fairly modest mosque because essentially it will end up being the purchaser's hard-earned money.

You think the developer is going to build one out of their generosity? While they are required to build a mosque, they might as well designate a place for other places of worship to be ‘muhibbah'.

One thing to consider - having a mosque is really fine, but the developer/mosque organising/maintenance committee should ensure that the speakers are of good quality. A pleasant voice of prayer is soothing even for non-Muslims, but not one that's squeaky or ear piercing.

Disbeliever: What is more important is our faith and how we live our lives, and how we should respect the beliefs and cultures of the various communities in Malaysia.

Looking at recent events in the country, it is obvious that generally Malaysians respect one another's beliefs and cultures but some people tend to be holier than others and want to dictate how others should believe in God and practise our faith in the way this group of people deemed fit.

Even the Great Muhammad, s.a.w. had respect for the non-Muslims but alas, this can't be said of some people, especially some of those serving in the religious authorities.

Azizi Khan: Does that mean the Housing and Local Government Ministry will make it a requirement for other houses of worship as well? Just to be fair of course since everyone knows that the government funding comes from taxpayers from all religious background.

Fairnessforall: Maybe it's time non-Muslims refuse to buy houses where special privileges are given to one race and the cost past on to others. This is not fair, so we should boycott every project that builds an mosque at the expense of the buyers.

Those idiots who propose this should know that there is no way the developer will absorb the cost, but would pass it to the buyers. Eventually when developers are not able to sell those houses then those who came up with such idiotic idea can answer for it.

Chan: Yes, a church and a temple will be really helpful too. Thank you, minister.

 

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