Secret Christian converts in Malaysia
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Life as a secret Christian convert
By Linda Pressly
BBC Radio 4's Crossing Continents
Abandoning Islam for Christianity is such a sensitive issue in Malaysia that many converts find themselves leading a secret, double life.
Maria - not her real name - is a young Malaysian woman who has lived a secret and sometimes fearful life since she converted from Islam to Christianity.
Apostasy, as it is known, has become one of the most controversial issues in Malaysia today.
Maria became a Christian over a decade ago when she was 18. She says no-one forced her to convert, that she made the decision after studying different religious texts.
Conversion is deemed so sensitive in Malaysia that even the priest who baptised her refused to give her a baptismal certificate.
And, even now, the church she attends asked her to sign a declaration stating the church is not responsible for her conversion.
"My church says if the authorities come, they are not going to stand up for me. I have to stand up for myself," she said.
Not even Maria's family know she has converted.
"If my family find out I am no longer a Muslim they will completely cut me off. That means my name in the family will be erased.
"I could migrate, but the problem is I want to stay in Malaysia, because this is my country. And I love my family. I just want to live peacefully."
Full report in here :
http://www.malaysia-today.net/2008/content/view/78/46/
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"My church says if the authorities come, they are not going to stand up for me. I have to stand up for myself," she said. -
thats pretty sad not to have religious freedom
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Sounds like Scientology to me.
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hmm quite common.
once during a church camp in malaysia. a malay came to my room to clean it up. then he saw the christian song sheets and guitar, and he said he's a christian too.
so we sat down, worshipped, and chit chatted. very nice guy. -
wat to do, Malaysian very kacau if Malay ppl convert to other religion.. like its a very big sin .. lol
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It's worse in the Arabic countries where apostasies are punishable by death if I'm not wrong . But actually in fact , other religious institutions are not allowed to be set up there .
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Sigh , being too religious can also block some1's mind to think rationally.. sigh
What is life if religion laws are about to bound u in many ways ? sigh...Im lucky im not Muslim or Arabian. -
remember the korean missionaries?Originally posted by Trump_Card:It's worse in the Arabic countries where apostasies are punishable by death if I'm not wrong . But actually in fact , other religious institutions are not allowed to be set up there .
actually i think all abrahamic religions are like that la.
islam and jews particularly -
I'm actually not sure which is more scary. Korean fundamentalists or Islamic terrorists.
Islamic terrorists kill you by blowing you up or choping off your head.
Korean fundamentalists love you to death. So not only do you die, you feel guilty about it. -
Eh, this ish supposed to be a secret wor..... want to tok, PM can anot? Discuss lidat too open leh..... Get Maria into trouble!
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Mariah not her real name leh. She' safe for now.
Besides, the Malaysian newspapers once reported that an estimated 100,000 Muslims in Malaysia converted to other religions. -
Matthew 10:33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
i think this verse is really suitable in this context -
lol reminds me of harold and kumar 2.Originally posted by Phaze:I'm actually not sure which is more scary. Korean fundamentalists or Islamic terrorists.
Islamic terrorists kill you by blowing you up or choping off your head.
Korean fundamentalists love you to death. So not only do you die, you feel guilty about it.
"North Korea and Al Qaeda are working together.. This is bigger than I thought..!"
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aiya, i am not surprised at all, after what those musilm have done during, what happen in sept 11, my opinion of musilm has dropped drastically.
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I'm no scholar of Malaysia constitution, but I remember I read it somewhere oon newspapers that they have freedom of religion as well... guess they just put it down on paper but never practise it huh...
Religious laws shouldn't equate to state laws in the first place, thus i do find it unreasonable as it seems most muslim countries would implement laws that seem fundamentally muslim in nature that covers every citizens regardless of religion.
Felt it was good to have separation of church and state. I mean, dun you agree render unto Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God? Poor fellows, these people are... -
hmm, its a double edged sword i guess.Originally posted by pacoboy:I'm no scholar of Malaysia constitution, but I remember I read it somewhere oon newspapers that they have freedom of religion as well... guess they just put it down on paper but never practise it huh...
Religious laws shouldn't equate to state laws in the first place, thus i do find it unreasonable as it seems most muslim countries would implement laws that seem fundamentally muslim in nature that covers every citizens regardless of religion.
Felt it was good to have separation of church and state. I mean, dun you agree render unto Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God? Poor fellows, these people are...
what if the interest of state clashes with the interest of God? How? -
That is a very real question to ask yourself.Originally posted by dumbdumb!:...
what if the interest of state clashes with the interest of God? How?
I believe when it comes to that you have to decide whether you trust more in God or fear the state(ruler) more. You really have to decide when the time comes if ever but I believe it already has. There's no in between.
Do you have enough faith to choose God over the state or do you want to play it safe in this world hence choosing the state over God....
I think(and from my own experience) many, possibly most people would choose the state over God hence committing grave sins in the process because most people don't know God.
You'd be fighting against the odds if you were to choose God. But really anyone who fights against God are really the ones fighting against the odds....LOL -
i just can't understand why it's like the biggest sin in the world to have religious freedom ... it's not like anyone is worshipping the devil or anything.
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Yes it is kinda sad.Originally posted by knockonmydoor:i just can't understand why it's like the biggest sin in the world to have religious freedom ... it's not like anyone is worshipping the devil or anything.
Perhaps they fear change....perhaps they see the worst in any change. -
a few years ago, i went to malaysia for a youth conference. there were some malays youth who gave their testimonals and it shocked the audience because the conference was held in a hotel (with malays workers of course). i was observing the reaction of the crowd because it was something very new. to my surprise, there were no much of reaction as it seems that it is a common thing in malaysia nowadays. One of the malay youth stated that the first choice that they made was to leave their family because their family no longer accepts them. There was also another person (who is a adult) who testified abt his conversion from Islam to Chrisitanity. It was directly kind of conversion because it was not unlawful to convert from a muslim to a chrisitian but they must go through some kind of conversion course which was offered by the authorities. I have some malay friends who are christian too in singapore. they are open with their faith and they have christian name too. the people around them accepts them as who they are and there is nothing to hide at all. In many countries, there is always a extend of freedom of religion, it whether u practise or not.
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Thank you for sharing.Originally posted by technologykid:a few years ago, i went to malaysia for a youth conference. there were some malays youth who gave their testimonals and it shocked the audience because the conference was held in a hotel (with malays workers of course). i was observing the reaction of the crowd because it was something very new. to my surprise, there were no much of reaction as it seems that it is a common thing in malaysia nowadays. One of the malay youth stated that the first choice that they made was to leave their family because their family no longer accepts them. There was also another person (who is a adult) who testified abt his conversion from Islam to Chrisitanity. It was directly kind of conversion because it was not unlawful to convert from a muslim to a chrisitian but they must go through some kind of conversion course which was offered by the authorities. I have some malay friends who are christian too in singapore. they are open with their faith and they have christian name too. the people around them accepts them as who they are and there is nothing to hide at all. In many countries, there is always a extend of freedom of religion, it whether u practise or not.
Leave their family eh? Wow what a sacrifice. God bless them for they have endured the pain of letting go a family. My sympathy goes with them. I don't know whether I would have the same courage as them to choose God over my family.