Religious Diversity Looking For The Meeting Point

RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY

LOOKING THE MEETING POINT

6.1 : INTRODUCTION

6.2 : DEFINITION OF RELIGION

6.3 : WHY WOULD ANYONE WORSHIP??

6.4 : RELIGIONS IN MALAYSIA

6.5 : RELIGIOUS CONFLICT

6.6 : LOOKING FOR THE MEETING POINT

INTRODUCTION

WHAT IS RELIGION??

DOES ANYONE KNOW WHAT THE TERM

‘RELIGION ‘ MEAN??

INTRODUCTION

• Religion is the main part in human life.

• Helps us to know their God, in order to live harmony.

• Religion and ethnics become related to each other

• Eg : Malay = Islam, Indian = Hindhu,

Chinese = Buddha.

Definition of Religion

Tie or Bind back

Horizontal Relationshi

pBind us together in a community with other people

Bind us to something bigger than ourselves, to our origins, the ultimate reality behind our existence (God)

Vertical Relationshi

p

SELF

Ultimate Reality

Other Other

Environment

DEFINITION

• Relation between human with extraordinary power which makes them believes that it might provide protection.

• A set of rules that guide the relationship between human and their God.

• Trusted system that created by cluster of people in society to interpret anything happen in their life.

WHY WE NEED RELIGION?

• Basic requirement

• Human who lives in past already affected by religion, prove by the archeology found.

• Religion is inherited from ancestors to fulfill their family heritage.

• Factor of safety, which they believe their religion will protect their safety.

• Element that strengthen brotherhood.

FUNCTIONS OF RELIGION

IN GENERAL,

• Makes people feel brave when they in terrified, difficulties.

• Lighten the burden for them who facing problems.

• Basic of morality, arts, culture, and civilization for a race and society.

• IN SPECIFIC VIEW,

1) Source of Moral Values

- ethics code and moral rules that become as a guidance for the believers.

- ethics code of WEBER ( 1930 )

2) Unite

- build social bond and unite people to form a society.

3) Encourage & Verified Program development

- Development of program can be done immediately when religious people approve it & when information of development is using religion language.

4) 4) Encourage National spirit

- Mehden ( 1968 ) : States that religion differentiate between colonizer and local society.

- Before 20th century, "PERANG JAWA" occured in Indonesia due to the variety of national organisation which exist to defeat foreign domination.

5) National Intergration

- Geertz (1973) claims that honoured country formed due to sentimental of primordial which put religion and ethnic as the priority.

6) Formation of civilization

- Religion helps human to form civilization.

-eg : *Western Civilization; Christian

*Middle East Civilization; Islam

* East Asean Civilization; Hindu-Buddha

7) Government

- Religion plays role in government

- Mesir, leader of the country becomes a leader for religion too.

8) Spread the Culture & Arts

-Religion having a close relationship with arts

-A kind of esthetic orientation such as drawing, and architecture.

DIVISION OF RELIGION:SAMAWI

- Comes from ALLAH S.W.T to fulfillhuman needs and requirements

towards HIM.

- His prophets spread it to people.

-It IS NOT comes from human thinkingor human experience.

- To be as a guidance / lesson.

- eg : ISLAM, CHRISTIAN,YAHUDI

RELIGION CREATED BY HUMAN

-Comes from culturization, summarizeby society thinking.

-Having a fixed basic and rules thatform by a cluster of group.

- Not based on revelation, but in the formof lesson and general practiced.

- Comes from the combination ofexperiences and opinions thatbeing inherited from the past.

- Their holy scripture is made by their

founder thinking.

ELEMENTS OF RELIGIONINTELECTUAL

• Religion as a way of thinking, as a philosophical system, addresses basic questions regarding personal and communal origin, purpose and destiny

• Who is God?• Who are we?• Why are we here?• Where did we come

from?• Is there someone

watching out for us or are we on our own?

EMOTIONAL

• Religion as a way of feeling, addresses how we relate with the divine

• internal feelings such as: faith, hope, gratitude, appreciation

• These feelings cause us to respond in certain ways both intellectually and actively

ACTIVE/PERFORMATIVE

• Religion as a way of acting, as a social system, addresses how we relate with each other

• Spiritual practices: meditation, prayer, ritual

• Physical forms: buildings/architecture, ritual objects, statues and other art forms

• Communal celebrations: rites of passage/life cycle celebrations, holiday celebrations

• Social laws: morals & ethics

Religions in Malaysia

STATISTICS RELIGIONS IN MALAYSIA? (March 2013)

Islam61%

Buddha20%

Christian9%

Hindu6% Others

3%

Religion

Islam Buddha Christian Hindu Others

ISLAM

ISLAM IN MALAYSIA• Islam was brought to Malaysia by Indian

Muslim traders in the 12th century .

• It is commonly held that Islam first arrived in Malay peninsular since Sultan Muzaffar Shah I (12 century)of Kedah, the first ruler to be known to convert to Islam after being introduced to it by Indian traders.

• In 13th century, the Terengganu stone monument was found at Kuala Berang,Terengganu.

• The first Malay state to receive Islam is in 1303.

• Sultan Megat Iskandar,known as Parameswara is the first Sultan of Melaka was converted into Islam after marrying a princess from Pasai

• Soon Malacca became the center of Islam study and maritime trade, other rulers followed suit.

MEANING OF ISLAM• Islam is derived from Arabic root

“Salima”:peace, purity, submission and obedient.

• In the religious sense, Islam means submission to the will of God and obedience to His law.

• Salam may also mean greeting one another with peace.

• It also mean submission to the One God ,and to live in peace with the Creator ,within one’s self, with other people and with the environment.

• Islam is a total system of living.

• A Muslim is supposed to live in peace and harmony with all these segments.

SOURCE OF ISLAM Quran• The Quran is exact word of God ,is authenticity,

originality and totality are intact. The god has promised to protect this book till the doom’s day.

Hadith

• The hadith is the report of the sayings, deed and approvals of the Prophet Muhammad. The Prophet’s saying and deeds are called Sunnah

CHARACTERISTICS OF ISLAM

RUKUN IMAN• Believe in Allah

• Believe in Malaikat

• Believe in Rasul

• Believe in kitab-kitab Allah

• Believe in Judgement day (Kiamat)

• Believe in Qada’ and Qadar

RUKUN ISLAM

• Reciting the Syahadah "I bear witness that there is no god but Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah“

• Prayer five times a day and night

• Fasting in Ramadan

• Practice regular charity (zakat)

• Perform the pilgrimage (for those who are able in terms of financial and health)

FESTIVALS IN ISLAMEid ul Fitr (1 Shawwal)-Muslims are not only celebrating the end of fasting, but thanking Allah for the help and strength that he gave them throughout the previous month to help them practice self-control.

Eid ul Adha (10 Dhul-Hijja)-The festival remembers the prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son when God ordered him to. God appeared in a dream to Ibrahim and told him to sacrifice his son Isma’il. -During the festival Muslims who can afford to, sacrifice domestic animals, usually sheep, as a symbol of Ibraham's sacrifice.

What is Buddhism?

Buddhism is a religion to about 300 million people around the world. The word comes from 'budhi', 'to

awaken'. It has its origins about 2,500 years ago when Siddhartha Gotama, known as the Buddha, was

himself awakened (enlightened) at the age of 35.

Is Buddhism a Religion?

• To many, Buddhism goes beyond religion and is more of a philosophy or 'way of life'. It is a philosophy because philosophy 'means love of wisdom' and the Buddhist path can be summed up as:

• (1) to lead a moral life,

• (2) to be mindful and aware of thoughts and actions, and

• (3) to develop wisdom and understanding.

What are the 5 Precepts?

• The moral code within Buddhism is the precepts, of which the main five are: not to take the life of anything living, not to take anything not freely given, to abstain from sexual misconduct and sensual overindulgence, to refrain from untrue speech, and to avoid intoxication, that is, losing mindfulness.

Ascetic Gautama with his five companions, who later comprised the first Sangha. (Painting in Laotian temple)

The Buddha teaching the Four Noble Truths. Sanskrit manuscript. Nālandā, Bihar, India.

Noble Eightfold Path

Noble 8-fold Path is being moral

(through what we say, do and our

livelihood), focussing the mind on being fully aware of our

thoughts and actions, and

developing wisdom by understanding

the Four Noble Truths and by

developing compassion for

others.

• Buddhist teachings can be understood and tested by anyone. Buddhism teaches that the solutions to our problems are within ourselves not outside. The Buddha asked all his followers not to take his word as true, but rather to test the teachings for themselves. ln this way, each person decides for themselves and takes responsibility for their own actions and understanding. This makes Buddhism less of a fixed package of beliefs which is to be accepted in its entirety, and more of a teaching which each person learns and uses in their own way.

• Buddhist teachings can be understood and tested by anyone. Buddhism teaches that the solutions to our problems are within ourselves not outside. The Buddha asked all his followers not to take his word as true, but rather to test the teachings for themselves. ln this way, each person decides for themselves and takes responsibility for their own actions and understanding. This makes Buddhism less of a fixed package of beliefs which is to be accepted in its entirety, and more of a teaching which each person learns and uses in their own way.

HINDUISM

HINDUISM

• is a diverse system of thought with varying concepts of god,

• But unified through common beliefs such as the cycle of birth,

• And rebirth the universality of Brahman.

• Hinduism is derived from the Persian word “Hind” for “inhabitant of India”.

• It is different than Christianity and other religions because it does not have a single founder like Abraham or Jesus Christ.

• It grew over a period of 4,000 years.

• Hinduism is composed of many different groups and has no well-defined organization.

• Its two most general features are the caste system and acceptance of the Vedas as the sacred scriptures.

Hinduism is….

FOUR GOALS OF LIFE

• Kama (pleasure)

• Artha (wealth, power)

• Dharma (moral harmony)

• Moksha (liberation)

STAGE OF LIFE

• Bramacharya (learning): begins at youth.

• Grihasthya (earning): begins upon marriage.

• Vanaprastha (serving): begins with the first grandchild.

• Sanyasa (seeking): begins by leaving home.

Vedas Teachings

SECTS OF HINDUISM

Gods Sect (Mazhab)

Roles of God

Brahma - God of Creation

Siva Saivism God of Destruction

Vishnu Vaisnavism God of Protection

Sakti Sakta

Muruga Kaumaram

Ganesha Ganapatiyam

Surya Sauram

Christianity

Christianity• Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings

of Jesus Christ as presented in the Ne Testament.• Christianity is the world's largest religion, with approximately 2.2 billion

adherents, known as Christians.• Most Christians believe that Jesus is the Son of God, fully divine and fully

human, and the saviour of humanity prophesied in the Old Testament.• Consequentially, Christians refer to Jesus as Christ or Messiah.• Christianity has played a prominent role in the shaping of Western civilization.

Creeds are concise doctrinal statements or confessions, usually of religious beliefs. Its main points:• belief in God the Father, Jesus Christ as the Son of God and the Holy Spirit• the death, descent into hell, resurrection, and ascension of Christ• the holiness of the Church and the communion of saints• Christ's second coming, the Day of Judgement and salvation of the faithful.

Christianity is often displayed as three streams that have been especially designed for two thousand years ago:

-Roman Catholic-Orthodox-Protestant

Sikhism

Sikhism

• A way of life and philosophy well ahead of its time when it was founded over 500 years ago.

• The Sikh religion today has a following of over 20 million people worldwide.

• Sikhism preaches a message of devotion and remembrance of God at all times, truthful living, equality of mankind, social justice and denounces superstitions and blind rituals.

• Sikhism is open to all through the teachings of its 10 Gurus enshrined in the Sikh Holy Book and Living Guru, Sri Guru Granth Sahib.

Philosophy and Beliefs• There is only One God. He is the same God for all people of all religions.• The soul goes through cycles of births and deaths before it reaches the

human form. The goal of our life is to lead an exemplary existence so that one may merge with God. Sikhs should remember God at all times and practice living a virtuous and truthful life while maintaining a balance between their spiritual obligations and temporal obligations.

• The true path to achieving salvation and merging with God does not require renunciation of the world or celibacy, but living the life of a householder, earning a honest living and avoiding worldly temptations and sins.

•  Sikhism condemns blind rituals such as fasting, visiting places of pilgrimage, superstitions, worship of the dead, idol worship etc.

• Sikhism preaches that people of different races, religions, or sex are all equal in the eyes of God. It teaches the full equality of men and women. Women can participate in any religious function or perform any Sikh ceremony or lead the congregation in prayer.

CONFUCIUS and LAOZI

CONFUCIUS• Born in a poor family in the year 551 B.C., and he

was born in the state of Lu.

• He was Chinese teacher, editor, politician, and philosopher of the Spring and Autumn period of Chinese history.

• Original name was Kong Qiu.

• Made many wise phrases and theories about the law, life, and the government.

• Philosophy is a kind of a system of ideas and thoughts that talk about the human's behavior.

Confucianism

• Confucianism is an ethical and philosophical system developed from the teachings of the Chinese philosopher Confucius.

• Started during warring states (403-221BC) – Zhou dynasty, means of transforming the violence and conflict into stability.

• Founded by K’ungFu Tzu• Teacher not a religious leader• Educated in political life and was a scholar and adviser of

feudal lords• Concerned civil morality - how people should live, behave

towards each other and good government • As a state person hope to put his ideas for reforming the state

into practice• Left the job after his effort failed and founded the 1st private

school in China

Humanism and Relationships • Humanism is at the core of Confucianism.

• Five constant or “Wuchang”:• Rén (Humaneness)• Yì (Righteousness or Justice)• Lǐ (Propriety or Etiquette)• Zhì (Knowledge)• Xìn (Integrity).

• These are accompanied by the classical Sìzì that singles out four virtues, one of which is included among the Five Constants:

• Zhōng (Loyalty)• Xiào (Filial piety)• Jié (Continency)• Yì (Righteousness).

• Social harmony is the great goal of Confucianism.• Relationships are the central to Confucianism.• Particular duties arise from one’s particular situation in relation to others.• Five bonds:

• Ruler and subjects• Father and son• Husband and wife• Older and younger brothers• Members of a community

• People should respect one’s social superiors-elders and ancestors• Purpose of government & rulers - Care for people• State be governed by aristocracy of the talent and not birth• Knowledge was the key to happiness and successful conduct• As a pacifists, declared that a true gentleman is a man of wisdom &

virtue whatever his social origin.

Taoism• Lao, Keeper of archives in the state of Zhou

• Dao-means way (way of virtue and nature)

• Individual is important:• Individual seeks harmony with the universe renouncing all

artificial connections

• Government • Out of harmony with nature and the ultimate• Believed that government interference & source of iniquity and

that if people were left to live by intuition they would live in harmony

• Purpose of the government was to promote human happiness

• Emphasized virtues:• Do nothing (humble, meditate) but get in line with nature,

universe and the ultimate (Dao)• Avoid pursuit of wealth, political power & learning• Best society is the simple preliterate society life

synchronized with rhythms and nature• Fishing than work• Confucius and Legalist worked to change things never

worked

• Nature made of Yin and Yan• Yin- female• Yan- Male• Complement each other

ANIMISM

• Animism  is the religious worldview that natural physical entities, including animals, plants, and often even inanimate objects or phenomena which possess a spiritual essence.

• “Animism" is said to describe the most common, foundational thread of indigenous people’s "spiritual" or "supernatural" perspectives.

• Animism encompasses the belief that there is no separation between the spiritual and physical world, and souls or spirits exist, not only in humans, but also in some other animals, plants, rocks, geographic features such as mountains or rivers, or other entities of the natural environment, including thunder, wind, and shadows.

• Animism thus rejects Cartesian dualism.

• Examples of animism can be found in forms of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Paganism, and Neopaganism.

• Some members of the non-tribal world also consider themselves animists and not all peoples who describe themselves as tribal would describe themselves as animistic.

Conflict of Religions

Example of confliction among religions, such as in Tibet, Afghanistan, Mesir, Azerbaijan, Ireland North, Filipina, Algeria and others.

The reasons why the conflict of religions will occur:- Do not pay their respect to other religions.- Lack of communication among each others.- Lack of understanding to each others.- Lack of strong bonded with their own religions.

Ways to overcome, is recognize the reasons why the conflict of religions will occur.

CONFLICT OF RELIGION

There are many conflicts of religion in different countries. Example :- I. Conflict between Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia in April

1992II.Conflict Hindu-Islam in India in December 1992III.Conflict Christians-Islam in Indonesia These conflicts occur cause by some reasons :-I. Different understanding and interpretion about other

religions.II.Using religion for the their own benefits in politic an

economy.III.There are no respects between other beliefs and religion.

RELIGION CONFLICT : ROHINGYA

1. Since 3 June 2012 hb recently, 10 Muslim in Taunggote, Tongu district was killed in a bus going home from the Tabligh to return to Rangoon, by a group of terrorists and Rakhine ethnic group of racists.

2. They were attacked after a Rakhine woman allegedly raped and murdered by the Rohingya. Further, terrorists have attacked all the Buddhist Rakhine Muslims in Akyap, the capital of Arakan.

3. While Sara Prang and Tarang village in the district Shong Rathidong have burned everything until there is none left. Consequently tension was sparked when Rohingya Muslims continue to be targeted by the Buddhist Rakhine included in other villages throughout the province Arakan.

4. So far, the battle between the occupation of Muslim Rohingya and security has spread to other villages. Reports received, the police shot at people and until yesterday some people were killed while many were injured.

5. Based on the information directly from Maungdaw, in fact many Rohingya Muslims have been killed in the last few days. From news Kaladan Press Network, reported 100 Rohingya people were shot dead and more than 500 others were injured in Maungdaw.

6. However, the bodies of those killed were transported by military and police, and until now not be handed over to the family concerned. Hence there is no accurate information number killed so far.

7. Rohingya refugees in Malaysia reported that they were in direct contact with the family in Arakan and found that many of the injured but not allowed to get treatment at the hospital. As a result many have died in the state does not get the required medication and treatment.

8. More surprising, the security forces, the police and the military, is now reported to have collaborated with the ethnic Rakhine to launch attacks on the Muslim Rohingya. Although the state of emergency declared in Maungdaw and now throughout Arakan, Rakhine terrorist police and reported directly attacked Rohingya population without mercy.

9. The authorities have to enforce Act 144 which limits the movement of the population, but ethnic Rakhine are left free to roam under police surveillance for burning homes and seizing goods Rohingya population.

10. So far, the news received, four villages were attacked and burned. Home residents in a village Samamia The Myothu Gitelah were burned, including a mosque vandalized.

11. Rohingya people home guarded by the security forces, but not to protect them, but to shoot them if they leave home. Thus, the suffering of Muslims in the past few days Rohinga increasingly serious when they do not get out of the house to buy daily food needs.

12. 9 June 2012, a village which was also Hazmia The attacked and burned. 10th June 2012, two of the biggest village and Saki Warlispara The (two villages most populous Muslim Rohingya) with Madrasah and thousands of students have been attacked by the Rakhine.

13. Many reported killed, mosque and madrasa in the village was also burnt. From the latest information, all communication was lost from Arakan including not allow any recording of what is happening in Arakan. Only through the telecommunications network from the border town of Maungdaw only Bangaladesh berfunsgsi phones to get information.

14. Harsh condemnation heaped on the Myanmar authorities since 1982 have been launched against the Rohingya ethnic cleansing. Rohingya Muslims never be treated unjustly by Myanmar's military regime in 1982 that killed Rahingya resulting in 100,000 people.

15. Now over 400,000 Rohingya refugees in refugee camps in Bangladesh, 60,000 in Thailand, 150,000 in Pakistan, 40,000 in Malaysia. Dozens of refugees in the camps in Kutupalong and COAX Bazar in Bangladesh is in very da'eef because Bangladesh authorities do not provide any help.

16. The fate of the Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar are in a very bad and very serious. Law and security operations since 1982 has Nasaka cause severe suffering on Rohingya Muslims who are still in Arakan province, Myanmar.

17. Among the suffering is foreclosure homes, land, livestock, destruction of mosques, the instructions are not allowed to repair any mosque, hundreds Mosque destroyed and replaced with Buddhist Pagoda, marriage and limited movement only with the consent of the army, arrest, without trial, torture, rape women and forced out of Islam and forced mengganut Buddha.

18. Abused Rohingya population is not allowed to have even a knife or machete for home use except by permission of the military. In fact they can not even own a cell phone. Some are arrested and jailed for up to seven years just for possessing mobile phones

Conclusion Looking For The Meeting PointIt must be recognized that Malaysia has devotees from four major world religions, which are Islam, Buddhist, Christian and Hindu coupled with other religions that also shape the colourful of religious life. Freedom provided by the constitutional giving ample room for all religions enjoy practicing their religion and at the same time create a harmonious social atmosphere of respecting the beliefs of others.

Diversity affiliations, religious beliefs and practices in Malaysia is a model that difficult compared with other countries. Relations between religion and growth must be nurtured so that social harmony be fresher . The question of the contribution of religion in the lives of deprived multi-ethnic tough with regard to religion as an important element to the country's ethnic identification. Potential to strengthen inter-ethnic relations in the construction of harmonious relations between the great religions. Malaysian society shall have the wide and open spaces to celebrate ethnic relations by strengthening the relationship between the different faiths .

Malaysia is a country that have various of race, religions and beliefs.

So, there are some conflict that occur in our community :-

1.Conflict between religions occur when a couple with different religion and belief want to get married. Then they having problem after the marriage.

2.Spread false statements and ideologies of other religions for political interests.

These conflicts may cause the relationship between other religion become worst.

So, there are many ways to increase a good relationship between followers of any religions and beliefs especially in Malaysia.

They build strong interaction between people in community.

For example :- Buddhist society help the Muslim by giving them foods

when flood occurs to them.Malaysian people celebrating the celebration all

religion(in term of tradition) together such as Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Chinese New Year, Deepavali and others

So, with this interaction, our world can be peace and we can live happily among of others.

Religion is important to us to undergo a perfect and better life.

This because most of religions promoted good way of life to human.

In Malaysia, there are many religions an beliefs in our community such as Islam, Buddhist, Hinduisme, Christian and others.

As a good Malaysian, we have to know and understand well about other religion to avoid misunderstanding and conflict.

We also have to respect others beliefs to ensure a good interaction among community

So that, we can share a good moments and maintain peaceful moment in Malaysia for a thousand years more.

• All religions have the universality which have the potential to build community living with harmony, stability and progress.

• Drastic changes in modern life almost causing non-existent of single religion community, but making the nature of society is consist of multiple religion.

• The society is in a social environment that causes them to meet each others, communicating, work, and live together with people of different faiths.

• The interaction between the community was able to build a strong social bonds with different religious affiliations.

• Key element in religious diversity is tolerant and consideration.

THAT’S ALL, THANK YOU

BY DR. HASMADI