Believing in 'Islam' Would Make You Stupid and Vulnerable?

The Malaysian government has said that "Muslims might get confused" if religions other than Islam is allowed to use the word "Allah" to refer to their God.

That is, frankly, the dumbest thing said about Muslims I've ever heard. (Let me say at the beginning that this is an attack on the Malaysian government's manipulation of 'Islam', not on all Muslims or Islam in general.) To hold that claim seriously would make people wonder what would believing in Islam/ becoming a Muslim do to your brain.

Seriously, think about it -- according to the Malaysian government/ religious authorities, Muslims in Malaysia are too 'vulnerable' (read: stupid?) to handle the following:

1, The Hollywood comedies "Bruce Almighty" and "Evan Almighty" (which the government was asked to ban because it was blasphemous)

2, Religious books written by foreign authors, especially if they are written in Bahasa Melayu (which the government has banned their imports)

3, Seeing the 'patung patung' (statues) erected by infidels by the roadside (which the Sabah Mufti has declared 'haram' to Muslims by his fatwa)

4, Reading the reference to 'Allah' in a Catholic publication (for which the Ministry of Internal Security has banned the Catholic Herald)

5, Wishing the infidels for their religious celebrations such as Deepavali (according to the Perak Mufti and Takaful Insurance)

6, etc etc...

In other words, Muslims just "can't handle the truth!" They, as Muslims and believers of Islam, could be easily led astray.

This is very strange, because it seems to suggest that even though a Muslim could tell "the straight path from the crooked" and "Truth from Error" when they quit their original religion and converted into Islam, (i.e. knew how to choose what is the truth,) they have suddenly lost their ability to tell right from wrong after they become a Muslim? It is as if becoming a Muslim causes you instant brain damage!?

I mean, are you seriously telling me that when a Muslim picked up a copy of the “Catholic Herald” and read an article talking about “Allah” having a son called “Yesus,” he couldn’t tell that he was reading the “Catholic Herald” and not the “Harakah”?? You got to be fucking kidding me.

HELLO ABANG -- READ THE TOP OF THE PAGE, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!!

CAN'T YOU SEE THE WORD 'C-A-T-H-O-L-I-C'??? JESUS FUCKING CHRIST!!!

BUTA HURUF KE??

(And frankly, if this abang still can’t tell that he was reading a non-Islamic publication, then he’s most probably illiterate anyway -- the government would not need to save him from Satan’s seductive words disguised as Christian propaganda materials!!)

I would urge the government/ religious authorities to stop using this kind of stupid excuses which sounds like 'defending Islam' but in actual fact would only insult the intelligence of -- who else? -- Muslims, because they are indirectly saying that believing in 'Islam' (the Malaysian style) could make you stupid and vulnerable... This is a great disservice to Islam.

As Thomas Jefferson said,

"It is an insult to our citizens to question whether they are rational beings or not, and blasphemy against religion to suppose it cannot stand the test of truth and reason."

On the other hand, if the government has to resort to such desperate excuses and psuedo-reasons like "protecting the 'stupid' Muslims" in order to justify its discriminatory (YES, LET'S NOT FORGET THAT ULTIMATELY, WHAT THIS IS REALLY ABOUT) policies and actions (especially in order to violate non-Muslims' constitutional right to religious freedom), then we as the people should be alert.

Just like "A prince never lacks legitimate reasons to break his promise" (Niccolò Machiavelli), the Malaysian government never runs out of absurd reasons to violate the people's constitutional rights and freedom (aka 'social contract'). As some have said, when no good reason is given to justify an action by the government, "no reason, that is, that could not be instantly refuted by a literate teenager" (Noam Chomsky, MIT Professor), then we can only conclude that all the absurd reasons given are just excuses deployed to disguise the REAL MOTIVE -- to violate the religious freedom of non-Muslims.

Thomas Jefferson again:

"We are not afraid to follow truth wherever it may lead, nor to tolerate any error so long as reason is left free to combat it."

We are not stupid or naïve, no matter how much the government wishes us to be. I therefore call upon the government to stop insulting the intelligence of the Malaysian people, Muslims and non-Muslims alike, and take their hands off non-Muslims' religious freedom.

UPDATE: The Malaysian government has backed down.

"The publisher of Herald - The Catholic Weekly newspaper has been allowed to continue printing its Bahasa Malaysia section with no restrictions on the use of the word Allah for God."

I am happy that good sense has finally prevailed, and as far as I am concerned (not a Christian), I am happy to welcome this is a victory for the freedom of speech.

UPDATE 2: Nope, sorry folks, the Malaysian Cabinet still think that Muslims are too stupid and vulnerable:

"The restrictions on the use of the word “Allah” was still enforceable and shall be upheld as decided by the Cabinet in two of its meetings – on Oct 18 and Nov 1, 2006, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Abdullah Mohd Zin said.

Abdullah, who said the Prime Minister had instructed him to clarify the matter so the public would not be confused, told a press conference on Thursday:

“One of the reasons given to uphold the restriction is because that it has long been the practice of this country that the world Allah refers to God according to the Muslim faith.”

It was only proper for other religions to use the word "God" and not "Allah" when referring to their God in respective beliefs, Abdullah said, adding that the use of the word “Allah” shall not be made a public debate that may give the impression as if there is no freedom of religion in the country.

“The use of the word 'Allah' by non-Muslims may arouse sensitivity and create confusion among Muslims in the country,” he said."

All Muslims in Malaysia should be proud of the government and themselves. Really.

To prevent 'confusion' among non-Muslims, let's see the Malaysian government prohibit Muslims from reciting the following verses of the Quran:

5:17: "In blasphemy indeed are those that say that Allah is Christ the son of Mary."

9:5: "Then, when the sacred months have passed, slay the idolaters wherever ye find them, and take them (captive), and besiege them, and prepare for them each ambush."

47:4: "Therefore, when ye meet the Unbelievers (in fight), smite at their necks; At length, when ye have thoroughly subdued them, bind a bond firmly (on them): thereafter (is the time for) either generosity or ransom: Until the war lays down its burdens. Thus (are ye commanded): but if it had been Allah's Will, He could certainly have exacted retribution from them (Himself); but (He lets you fight) in order to test you, some with others. But those who are slain in the Way of Allah,- He will never let their deeds be lost."

8:39: "And fight them until persecution is no more, and religion is all for Allah. But if they cease, then lo! Allah is Seer of what they do."

9:123: "O ye who believe! Fight those of the disbelievers who are near to you, and let them find harshness in you, and know that Allah is with those who keep their duty (unto Him)."

And many, many other verses in the Quran -- they all should be immediately banned and deleted from the copies of the Quran found in Malaysia, and anybody who posseses a copy of the Quran with those verses (as well as those who print or import the Quran with verses in those words especially in languages other than Bahasa Melayu, since the kafirs are deemed not holy enough for Bahasa Melayu) should be detained indefinitely without trial under the ISA for suspicion of incitement to violence and hate.

It is only fair, in order to prevent 'confusion' among, and to protect the 'sensitivity' of, non-Muslims (for a change). After all, this is a government for all races and religion, and our Prime Minister is the "Prime Minister of all Malaysians", so let's see the non-Muslims getting some 'protection' for a change.

I say the Herald should fight all the way in the court because otherwise, one thing will lead to another. Today it is about 'Allah', tomorrow it could be many other things! The moment you accept government interference with your internal communications, that's it -- next time they might even stop you from telling the virgin Mary story because it would be an abomination of 'Allah' to suggest that 'Allah' could beget a son and the Christians would be accused of trying to 'confuse' Muslims again!! (Quran, 6:101 and 9:30) (Which would be a wet dream comes true for many extremist Muslims, I tell ya.)

This is simply ridiculous -- which means the ulterior motive is very obvious.