By TK Chua

I refer to the proposal to teach interfaith studies in schools. While many quickly hailed the proposal as the right move, just as soon, others expressed their concerns – on syllabi, teaching methodology and focus.

Can we ever teach the religions of others without comparing it with our own? Can a teacher from a particular faith ever be qualified to teach the religions of others without bias, misconceptions, and elements of bigotry creeping in?

It is typical in Malaysia to attempt resolving complex issues with simple solutions. Is our disharmony and disunity today due to religious differences? How did this happen? Was it due to comparative religions not being taught in schools? Based on the latest proposal, it would appear so.

I think it is way too convenient to attribute disharmony and disunity in the country to the lack of understanding of the religions of others. To begin with, do we even understand our own religions properly? Do we teach our religion correctly to our children? Do churches, mosques, and temples emphasise the right elements to their respective congregations?

Let’s not be pretentious; asking students to learn the religions of others half-heartedly or without clear understanding, is not going the help. I think it is better that followers of each religion be taught the right elements of their own religion rather than attempt learning the right elements of another’s religion.

Does each religion emphasise love, humility, compassion, inclusiveness and tolerance or is it subtle superiority and exclusiveness that we stress on? Worse still, do we in the process denigrate other religions when we promote our own?

Maybe I am too simple-minded. I believe if all of us emphasise the right attributes of our respective religions, then religions would not have become the source of bigotry and conflict. Instead, all religions would have become the source of good deeds, compassion, tolerance and understanding.

I believe many a time we want others to understand our religion, but we ourselves have very little understanding of our own. We demand respect from others but we have shown very little respect to others.

If we teach our children love, humility, respect for others, tolerance and inclusiveness based on our religion, harmony and unity with people of other faiths will come naturally. On the contrary, if we emphasise superiority, exclusiveness and bigotry in our faith, no amount of comparative studies on other religions in schools and universities is going to help us much in promoting unity and harmony.

TK Chua is an FMT reader.

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