Why i can't see Star publishing this piece of news? They seem to be so busy demonizing PR and glorifying BN. If you can't deliver the truth, minus well just scrap...
KUALA LUMPUR - THE Malaysian government has refused to release 10,000 Bibles confiscated for using the word 'Allah' to refer to God, a banned translation in Christian texts in this Muslim-majority country, an official said on Wednesday.
An official from the Home Ministry's publications unit said the government rejected pleas by church officials to allow the Bibles, imported from Indonesia, into the country. Christians say the Muslim Malay-dominated government is violating their right to practice their religion freely.
Such religious disputes are undermining Malaysia's reputation as a harmonious multiethnic, moderate Muslim nation. About 30 percent of the country's 28 million people practice Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism or other faiths.
A Home Ministry official said the government told the importer last month to return the Indonesian-language Bibles, which are still with customs.
'Actually the publications, the Bibles are already banned,' said the official, refusing to elaborate. He declined to be named because he is not authorised to make public statements.
The Bibles contain the word 'Allah,' which is banned by the government for use by non-Muslims in an apparent bid to appease Muslims. Church officials say the word 'Allah' has been used for centuries to refer generally to God in both Indonesian and Malaysian languages, which are similar. The Roman Catholic Church is challenging the ban in court. AP
Wednesday, November 04, 2009
Search
February 2010
Latest Blogs
- Are They For Real?
- Killers-the worse kind !!!
- Restructure AID or SUBSIDIES!!!
- May we have some good news please......
- cowardice triumphs over justice
- high performing and non performing
- Let's Be Fair!
- Malaysia Immigration Has A Lot To Learn
- Lies Been Told Upon Us About The Highway Toll
- Don't Do This During Exams...
- Overhaul of immigration law coincides with poll findings
- FAMOUS or FAME-LESS
- Squeeze The Cloth Drier....
Latest Comments
- DonnieOsmong on Don't Do This During Exams...
- blitzkreig on Lies Been Told Upon Us About The Highway Toll
- Basics on cowardice triumphs over justice
- MAMZ73 on Datuk Nasir! Do you not have any shame?
- MAMZ73 on Malaysian rose bares all
- troon on Restructure AID or SUBSIDIES!!!
- sleekk on Restructure AID or SUBSIDIES!!!
- asneoh on Lies Been Told Upon Us About The Highway Toll
- blitzkreig on Lies Been Told Upon Us About The Highway Toll
- ngguanhuah on Tell me your story!
Categories
Archives
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
- December 2007
- November 2007
- October 2007
- September 2007
- August 2007
- July 2007
- June 2007
- May 2007
- April 2007
- March 2007
- February 2007
- January 2007
- December 2006
- November 2006
- October 2006
- September 2006
- August 2006
- July 2006
- June 2006
- May 2006
- April 2006
- March 2006
- February 2006
- January 2006
RSS
Comments
Boycott It!
Authorities asked to release 15,000 seized Bibles
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/11/4/nation/20091104132939&sec=nation
The Star may miss it the first time, but we do follow up even so. I suggest you stay tuned to http://thestar.com.my/ as much as possible; cheers.
As for our local 'Enlightened Beings', biasalah...
"Anak dirumah mati kebuluran, Kera dihutan disusukan"
"Karena begitu besar kasih Allah akan dunia ini, sehingga Ia telah mengaruniakan Anak-Nya yang tunggal, supaya setiap orang yang percaya kepada-Nya tidak binasa, melainkan beroleh hidup yang kekal."
(2) There are many English versions of the Bible but the following is the one from the Douay-Rheims Bible where John 3:16 is stated as follows:
"For God so loved the world, as to give his only begotten Son: that whosoever believeth in him may not perish, but may have life everlasting."
(3) Can someone clarify: If indeed Allah is the name of the God of the Christians, why isn't Allah used in the English versions of the Bible as well?
In addition, there is no restriction imposed on Christian/believers that, in order to study the Bible it has to be of the original language... so, having an unlimited term for God is not surprising, as long as it agrees with the context (and content).
Even Chinese (or Japanese) version of Bible has its own description (or term) for God.
If you look closely at the etymology of the term "Allah", you will think that it's ridiculous to claim sole ownership of the word "Allah" in a religion. The term "Allah" had been used even during the Abrahamic era (and by Pagans as well) and it's rather more cultural (Arabic) than religious.
In our case, I think the Ministry is worried about the maturity of certain people, and hence the ban is to present these people from foolishly misread and believe in other text... But are we that childish?
It would be weird to have a jumbled out translated version of "Ju" (Chinese) in English Bible, and vice versa.... hence, Allah in English bible is a bit off... though it can still be incorporated. But writing a chinese character (Shang Ti) in English bible will raise eyebrow...
That is a pertinent question indeed. For other prophets that are recognised in both the Bible and the Quran, they both have the same name.
Isa has Christ. Musa has Moses. Ibrahim has Abraham and so on.
If Tuhan is God, then what is the Bible equivalent of Allah?
However, at the end of the day, religion is a personal affair. Perhaps even more personal than that between a man and woman in deep love.
As such, we should all respect each others belief and religious rules. It is only polite to refrain from any activity or words that serves no other purpose than to provoke the other party, regardless of the justifications.
It is not possible to be "logical" when it comes to faith.
Ahimsa and Om Mani Padme Hum to all.
Soondar, I respect most of your comments so far, but I totally lost it when I read your 3rd point.I really cannot understand how could you come up with such a foolish question.
hey dey gomen, you think you own bahasa is it?
(1) Just like any other religion, Christians do have a name for their God. Read Genesis 1.1 in the Hebrew language.
(2) One more question for the two of you and also to any one aho knows the answer(s): On Judgement Day, what are the names Christians should use to refer to their God? Should it be Elohim and Yeshua or can it be any equivalent of the word god in any language? In your replies, quote the related proofs from your Bible. Don't get me wrong. These are not challenges, these are questions.
So, don't get angry and call others silly and foolish and etc, etc, etc. They are valid questions about a subject called Faith. Also, aren't Christians obliged to answer such questions from people who want to know the answers? Shouldn't answering questions be considered as part of the inter-faith dialogue process?
Fancy fighting for the right just to call God the Almighty.
It's a case of small man BIG GOD!
Peace!
Just wait until kingdom come la!
your question is not a question but an insult.
Do you think Muslim will accept it if we make comment on the Quran?
And do you think the muslim will like it if the quran is banned or seized just because of one particular 'WORD'.
Inter faith mean all the religions should have a good understanding and there should be no one religion can say that it is the right one and it is the only one who can use the word Allah.
The indonesian has been using this word for years and have you heard anyone in Indonesia complaining about this? or have you heard the ARABS, which is the origin of the word complaining about other religion using it?
I'm sorry but I feel that foolish is the only word to describe your question so don't get agitated when someone make such description of such a stupid and insulting question.
Buddha is my teacher.
Buddhism is my teaching.
Buddha taught us, everything is a cycle of life. Everyhting difference is creation of man.
If we are sharing, yes name is just name, word is just a word, it is meant to be shared.
Buddha told us, he is not god.
Thank you for your angry reply from which I can conclude that (1) you do not know why the word Allah should not/cannot be used in the english versions of the Bible and (2) you do not know by what name christians should address their god in the after-death world. But, let's see if your friend PatrickJB and others can shed some light on the two issues. Hang around, you may learn something new from them.
Hi there,
I don't belong to any religion.
So I am not in any position to quote the Koran or the Bible.
Why everyone trying to say "God" belongs to Christianity or Allah belongs to Islam?
Maybe they are one and the same...maybe there is God/A;;ah and maybe there is none.
Look at the websites on Atheism- USA has a huge population of atheists. They even have their national association.
The argument is that if there is God/Allah, how come so many good people are killed, murdered, died in accidents etc. Where is God/Allah when they cry for help?
Buddhists will say that this is karma. Then we have so many Tibetan monks who claim that they are reincarnations of famous spiritual teachers etc.
I do not wish to condemn, question (like soondar) too far- as the universer is so big. We all actually know NUTS and all so tiny when compared to the universe.
Anyway, Islam is getting a bad name these days- what with militants and terrorists- the Talibans destroying the big statue of Buddha in Afghanistan.
Back to the subject- I feel the government is wrong to ban the Christian books. It gives Islam another bad image as an intolerant religion.
When I meet HIM I will just call HIM "FATHER!"
I'm not angry but this is my way of emphasizing the truth.
Please ask yourself why only in our country things like this is happening?
I guess Malaysian politicians must be outstandingly dim species who can be confused by usage of the word Allah. We obviously need better quality policitians and enforment officers.
Yes if this was the Quran that was confiscated, this would have been an international incident and there will be fatwas out left right and centre to kill infedils.
That my friends are how Islamic "munafiq" (hypocrites) work. They claim to talk and know about Islam but in reality they know very little.
Religious authorities and parties in Malaysia are so far away from true Islam, its like the difference between a donkeys nose and arse!
Islam talks about pretenders with forked tongue. Look at Najib talk about 1Malaysia when his minions do all the dirty work. See Islam for these buggers are only a means to an end. Its just a tool for them to strengthen their position as a political party.
So are we going to believe what these people say that somehow Malaysian Muslims will be "confused" by a Malay bible ? Everyone knows that in the Middle East everyone uses the word "Allah" to mean God. And I am very sure Bibles in various Middle Eastern languages use "Allah" as well. Have the Muslim there been confused ? Maybe Malaysian Muslims are inferior bunch with so little willpower that they get swayed so easily.
Has anyone wondered that its not Christians and their Bible ? Its the Malays themselves who are wrong ? In defending their religion, they are causing more harm than good. Rest assured articles like this will be published overseas and projecting Islam in bad light.
Thats right, all this religious persecution drive shows is how tolerant Malaysia really is.
AK
There is only the spiritual being, without the physical body that used to rendered us senses. We might not even be "seeing", "hearing" and "sensing" the way we did....
To assume that we need even to address God is sure an earthly presumption...
I for one will not be too bothered about how to address Him. To me, the question is insignificant.
The logic is already clear.
As for the ban, it only shows how little faith the Malaysian Government (or religious authority) has towards the maturity of believers here in Malaysia. Nothing more... unless patency is at play here :D
"It's silly to ask what you will address God as, on Judgement Day. Are we assuming that you will be presented in front of him for interrogation? Nope, it will be swift (as speech and mind will no longer work there)."
Interesting theory. I don't know if you are a Christian but if you say that to Christians who know what is written in the Bible, they will tell you to read Matthew 12:36-37; Romans 14:11.
You should read them to at least know that they know what they are talking about.
We surely don't want to be like the orthodox Jews, in which even the name of God cannot be uttered, only read silently. For Muslims, remember the God doesn't favor those who do things in excess.
To quote you, "And I am very sure Bibles in various Middle Eastern languages use "Allah" as well."
If the Bibles in the Mid-East countries are in Arabic and other languages local to the Mid-East, of course, the word "allah" will be in their Bibles.
Here in Malaysia, they are the ones who are saying that "allah" is word in the Malay language. But, are the Malays saying that "allah" is a Malay word?
Right, need we dispute over what to call GOD?
Now dear sir, if you would kindly open the Bible to Luke 11:2, you'll see why I call him "FATHER."
Salam!
And yes, it's just a theory without practical implication.... None of us will know except when the time comes.
However, please bear with me when I say that "words"... it's a very inefficient way to communicate (though its emergence had propelled humanity to become the most "successful" species on the planet).
So, no matter how fluent we are, we can never express our thoughts nor feelings nor aspiration etc... as perfectly as we wanted, NOR can we assure the receiving end(s) understand 100% what we wanted to express.
So, it's a theory to say that "words" in scripture is merely a metaphor... to better communicate to humanity the "idea" of what the day of reckoning will be like... that we will have to explain all our justifications for all our deeds, regardless of the means of communication.
It's merely a theory. Back to the topic.... the term "God" is more cultural rather than religious. And rose by any name smells as nice (or has thorn)...
Peace.
I'm as impress as jlkow.
You don't just speak, but give weight to your words as well.
Peace.
I'm not sure if you are Muslim or not but if you are, I salute you for your comments.
I have many True Muslim friends and they never made any remarks that can hurt anyone so do we who are not muslim.
In fact that is what we want in this country if we really want to progress as 1 Malaysia, a multi racial and multi religious country with one common goal which is to maintain peace and harmony among the people with different background.
If we are just a spec in the Universe, would God care how we address the?
they; those ministers and the gomen's dogs who dont even practise what is being preached in their own religion (one must not consume alchohol and adulteries) now suddenly want to so call "protect" their religion by confiscating the Bible just because they contain one word used in their own Quran?
what is this? a joke? they themselves dont even respect their own religion but when they feel other people had offended their religion, they start making a big fuss out of it.
Apparently, we all had argued enough abt each others religion til we got nothing left to say anymore. So, all have decided to go back to basic which is how to address the God.Then the arguments will start all over again til it is back to the basic. This is a never ending story in Msia.