Christianity in Malaysia

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In Malaysia, Christians comprise approximately one-tenth of the population. A majority of this number are living in East Malaysia. The major Christian denominations in Malaysia include the Charismatic churches, Roman Catholic Church, Anglican Church and Methodists.

Contents 1 Church buildings 2 Evangelism 3 Literature 4 Movies 5 Activities 6 Christian religious holidays 6.1 Christmas 6.2 Good Friday 7 Christians among various ethnic groups in Malaysia 8 See also 9 External link

[edit] Church buildings

Churches are allowed in Malaysia though there are some restrictions on construction of new churches. No pre-existing churches have been closed down by the government and no standing congregations have been disbanded. However, it is difficult to build new churches. For instance, it took more than ten years for the local authority in Shah Alam to allow a church to be built there. Most of the time, churches are opened in shops especially in the major cities like Kuala Lumpur.

[edit] Evangelism

It has been the practice of the church in Malaysia to not actively proselytize to the Muslim community. Christian literature are required by law to carry a caption "for non-muslims only". While there is no actual federal law against preaching to Muslims, in practice very few Muslims actually convert. This is partly due to the fact it is extremely difficult for Muslims to convert, as there are serious legal implications and Islam plays a major role in the Malay community for centuries thus resulting into very strong adherents. See also Status of religious freedom in Malaysia.

There are, however, cases in which a Muslim will adopt the Christian faith without declaring his/her apostasy openly. In effect, they are practicing Christians, but legally Muslims. Family pressure, and fear of losing one's spouse or children is usually a sufficient deterrent to prevent leaving Islam.

Those showing interest in the Christian faith are usually sent either by the police or their family to a "rehabilitation centre" where they can be reindoctrinated into staying faithful to Islam.

[edit] Literature

In Malaysia, the government has banned usage of the Indonesian-language Bible and Malay-language Bible, both known by the name "al-kitab". The reason for the ban is that both books use the term Allah for God. However, there is no closer translation from the original Hebrew since both Allah and the Hebrew word for God come from the same Semitic root. Other Christian materials in the Malay language have been banned at various times.

The Iban Bible named "Bup Kudus" was also banned for using the term "Allah Taala" for God. Eventually it was explained to the government that there was no other comparable term in Iban. As such the ban is not enforced further but it has not been officially repealed. The ban was later lifted after protests from the Christian leaders.

[edit] Movies

Mel Gibson's movie, The Passion of The Christ was restricted in 2004. Officially, the movie was open to Christians only. Attendance was discouraged since tickets were not carried by the usual box offices. Christian groups such as the National Evangelical Christian Fellowship arranged block bookings of cinemas and distributed tickets to various churches. An initial run of two-months was extended, making it appear doubtful that only Christians viewed the picture.

[edit] Activities

Actual modes of worship such as the liturgy used and the sermons are not actively censored or controlled by the government. Occasional surveillance of worship by clandestine operatives does occur.

It has been reported that several public secondary schools have unofficially banned on-campus Christian activities, such as Christian Fellowship (CF). CFs in affected schools have since been relocated to homes in order to continue functioning.^{[verification needed]}

[edit] Christian religious holidays

[edit] Christmas

Christmas is a public holiday in Malaysia, however, much of the public celebration is commercial in nature and has no overt religious overtones. Occasionally, Christian activist groups do buy newspaper advertorials on Christmas or Easter but this is largely only allowed in English newspapers and permission is not given every year. The advertorials themselves are usually indirect statements.

In 2004, [1]the government organized a national-level Christmas celebration but allegedly imposed an unofficial ban on all Christian religious symbols and hymns that specifically mention Jesus Christ. The event was jointly organised by the Arts, Culture and Heritage ministry, the government of the state of Selangor and the Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM). It has been reported that the Sultan of Selangor and his consort, the Prime Minister as well as assorted cabinet ministers will be in attendance. It will also be televised on TV in a majority Muslim country.

OC Lim, a former lawyer turned Jesuit priest and director of the Catholic Research Centre (also assistant parish priest of St. Francis Xavier's Church) has lodged a formal complaint. He has also stated that "To exclude (such) carols and to use (Christmas) for political gain is outrageous, scandalous and sacrilegious." He also said "To call it a cultural event (as rationalised by Christian politicians who are more politician than Christian) is to downgrade Jesus to a cultural sage such as Confucius."

CFM general secretary Rev Dr Hermen Shastri stated that the government wanted "nothing that insults Islam" during the open house.

Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Dr Rais Yatim later denied that any such ban had been "issued officially or unofficially". He also added that there is "nothing wrong in singing songs such as Silent Night and Merry Christmas" as they are "joyous songs for the festival".

Lee Min Choon, legal advisor to the CFM and the National Evangelical Christian Fellowship issued a statement which said "It means that churches can celebrate Christmas as they have been doing all along. Otherwise, the very meaning of the occasion will be lost." "Now, everybody should take the government at its word and celebrate Christmas the way they normally celebrate and express their religious faith."

[edit] Good Friday

Good Friday is not a federal public holiday, but is a state public holiday in Sabah and Sarawak where Christians constitute a significant minority; both states were granted some level of greater autonomy than other states in the Federation, as they were considered polities on par with Malaya when they merged with it and Singapore to form Malaysia. Furthermore, the very origin of celebrating Good Friday — to commemorate Christ's crucifixion — contradicts Islam, which is the official religion of the federation (Muslims strongly deny the fact that Christ died as a martyr).

However, there is no evidence that this theological objection plays any role in the noninclusion of Good Friday as a holiday. On the contrary, Good Friday is probably not a public holiday because, as a whole in the federation, Christians constitutes a slight minority - 9.1% according to the 2000 Census. The other two significant religious minorities in Malaysia, Buddhists and Hindus, also receive just one federal public holiday each — Wesak Day and Deepavali respectively. Deepavali however, is not federal holiday in the states of Sabah and Sarawak.

[edit] Christians among various ethnic groups in Malaysia

• Abai Sungai (9)
• Arab (13)
• Bajau, Bukit (57)
• Bajau, Kagayan (1)
• Kenyah, Bakong (76) [2]

[edit] See also

• Status of religious freedom in Malaysia
• Persecution of Christians

[edit] External link

• An outline history of Christianity in Malaysia