The recent storm over the usage of "Allah" in The Herald has caused quite a storm in Malaysia. While on the surface it seems to be an issue between Muslims and Christians, I believe that practicioners of other faiths, or those who don't profess any religion, should think long and hard on how they can contribute to promoting dialogue and understanding among people of different beliefs.
It's good to hear that there are many parties, Muslims and Christians alike coming together to call for consultations and dialogue, like in this Malaysiakini report. The leaders of Persatuan Mahasiswa Islam University Malaya (PMIUM) and Persaudaraan Kristian Varsiti UM (PKVUM) have come together to sign a statement, stressing among other things that dialogue and discourse is the best respectable way of handling the issue.
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Tan Sri Musa Hassan has come out to warn against any 'Allah' protest. Hot-headed action will only aggravate the situation. The Malaysian Bar Council has also expressed confidence that this issue can be resolved amicably.
Religious harmony cannot be taken for granted in a country like ours which is made up of a fabric of rich faiths. Dialogue is the surest way to resolve any differences among us. Soka Gakkai International President Daisaku Ikeda wrote, "Dialogue starts from the courageous willingness to know and be known by others. It is the painstaking and persistent effort to remove all obstacles that obscure our common humanity."
Interfaith pioneer Hans Kung also stressed, among other things, the importance of dialogue:
Dialogue is the air that humanity breathes in. If we refuse to commit ourselves to dialogue, the we will certainly drown in the stormy waters of hatred and bigotry.
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