Close friends would know that I sincerely abhor fundamentalism, especially when it comes in a very religious form. When God, ideally conceptualized as divine becomes captive in man-made cages of what morality, God-led should be, the whole premise automatically spells disaster, and the incidents throughout history has taught us well.
Fundamentalism can prove to be both internally and externally disastrous. Some religions that focus more on fine-tuning the inner being, albeit colourfully united by a pantheon of various 'gods', have been proven to wreck havoc on a believer's mind and soul, leading to strange rituals that sometimes involve insane consensual rape, and consensual violence. Other religions, the ones that focus on monotheistic ideals, in particular, have proven to own believers who in their fundamental zeal, have unleashed century-long wars, or in the recent decades, kamikaze bombers who decide upon the way of the sword.
I like to believe that every man wants good peace and harmony for this world, but I find it strange that so many decide that peace and harmony can only be thrown down by an invisible higher being when He/They is/are pleased by what we humans as minions have done. So be it killing off the unbelievers, or burning paper amulets, grinding the ashes into powder and ingesting them with holy water, or banning yoga-taichi-qigong, them exercises with paganistic origins, these calls to become more fundamental have intentions that are noble. Each believer wants to please his own God, with the sincere belief that God is angered by things that are displeasing. We all get it, if God is happy, then He will grant us peace, then we will be a peaceful nation of peoples, and then the world will be glad and good.
Alas, its been a vicious cycle of war after war, disaster after disaster, ever since our beliefs have been split into the continents they originate from. Oh woe upon the Arabs who are automatically considered Muslims, believers in The Way called Islam that has now become a faith largely associated with fanatical suicide bombers and terrorists. Pity those who live in the US's bible belt, so 'fundamentally' sound their beliefs in tongues and spirit-filling, that that belt also happens to house the vicious National Vanguard. Closer to home, haven't we considered the Chinese's versions of idolatorous buddhist and taoism to be one that priotises material gains only? Alas, or alas, the more the fundamentals work and more determined they demonstrate their intentions to 'right' things, the worse things get.
I find it heart breaking that this Christmas season sees the Palestinian bombings, that the current Israelite administration does not see any wrongdoing in their motivations. The oldest war in the world has yet to end, and what are Christians doing?
Sadly I got a random mail from someone in this local church circle, reminding us Malaysian Christians that yoga is unsafe and not for Christians to practise. Another random mail from another Christian person (and I dunno who thisperson is honestly), was meant to remind recipients that true believers of Christ must not resist spirit filled tongues, and must not be baptised by sprinkling.
Here I am frustrated, angry, and upset. For God's sake, is that the point of being Christians? Reminding your friends to doing safe things only? Casting aside 'weird' activities like tai chi, taekwondo, or qigong just because they are associated with those scary religions like hindusim and buddhism that has its believers prostrating to stone sculptures? Reminding us that there is a difference between Christians who speak in tongues and those who don't? Splitting hairs and asking us to not consider our friends who have been sprinkled as a baby as 'Christians' because it's not in the bible? We have countries being bombed, people and children dying, bodies mutilated to the point of unrecognizable, and this season, you send stupid mails like 'those who go to yoga classes will lose their places in heaven because God will be angry?'
I think God will be more angry that Christians are not priotising the things that matter this Christmas. How many of us will be willing to look towards what matters?
I had to write this sombre note to end the year.
