Morality is not just about dressing

 Moral wardens should get focus right

The Kota Baru Municipal Council (MPKB) has announced that it would no longer tolerate indecent dressing by women, both Muslim and non-Muslim. It is planning to impose a fine of RM500 on women found to sport such dressing which it describes as sexy.

This has brought opposing responses from several women’s organisations like the Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO) Wanita MCA, Women’s Development Collective and the All-Women’s Action Society (Awam).

Any move to educate people to dress decently should be welcomed. In fact, not only Islam but all religions preach morality and decent dressing is an important aspect of such a code.

It has to be emphasised that morality is just not about dressing alone. Morality involves a wholesome behaviour that embraces all the virtuous human values.

Civic-mindedness, respect for elders, upholding the laws of the country, being courteous and caring for the underprivileged are all important aspects of good morality.

So are honesty and integrity in all our actions. A decently attired individual need not necessarily be a morally righteous person.

The authorities should work to arrest the deteriorating standard of morality in society instead of being obsessed with what women wear.

Will enforcing a rigid dress code curb the sex-related social ills in our society such as illicit sex, adultery, abortion, incest and rape? It is very sad that even those who are supposed to be role models for our children appear to be leading immoral lives themselves.

What we need is not a strict dress code for our women but a proper education to inculcate good values in our people, especially the young.

In fact, the majority of our women are mature enough and have the appropriate sense of dressing and do not need legislation to enforce what they wear, as that is a basic individual right.

I am sure like all other town councils, MPKB has other pressing issues to handle. Instead of being a “moral police”, it should give priority to these other pressing issues and find ways to improve the livelihood of the residents of Kota Baru, concentrate on cleaning the drains and parks, collecting rubbish and providing other amenities it is entrusted with.

Dr Chris Anthony

Gandhi and Christianity

 

29 September 2006God’s Kingdom is within usOctober 2^nd.2006 will be Mahatma Gandhi’s 137^th.birthday. He was proclaimed by many as one of the world’s greatest spiritual leaders, not of the century but of all times. He was ranked not just with Thoreau,Tolstoy and St.Francis,but with Buddha, Mohammed and even Jesus. In fact to me he is the human version of modern Jesus.He was a devout Hindu but became the conscience in the hearts of all men,including the British colonialist who were predominantly Christian. He lost his life in the hands of his own Hindu followers for protecting the Muslim minority in
India during the time of post-independence partition. His actions demonstrate what the ruling majority in a political system should do to protect the minorities under their rule. Fr.John Dear recalls that when Gandhi was asked what advice he had for Christians, the great Indian independence leader wisely replied, “First, I suggest that all Christians must begin to live more like Jesus Christ. Second, practice your religion without adulterating it or toning it down. Third, emphasize love and make it your working force, for love is central in Christianity. Fourth, study the non-Christian religions more sympathetically to find the good that is within them, in order to have a more sympathetic approach to people.” His advice to Christians should make us ponder on our own words and deeds as the followers of Christ. Gandhi, a staunch Hindu has understood Christianity better than many of us as he recognized that love is central in Christianity.The following words of Gandhi bear very special significance to all mankind especially Christians:“The

Kingdom of
God is within us and that we can realise it not by saying, ‘Lord, Lord,’ but by doing God’s will and work. Therefore if we wait for the Kingdom to come, as something coming from outside, we shall be sadly mistaken.”He continues  “Do you know that there are thousands of villages where people are starving and which are on the brink of ruin? If we would listen to the voice of God, I assure you we would hear God say that we are taking God’s name in vain if we do not think of the poor and help them. If you cannot render the help that they need, it is no use talking of service of God and service of the poor. Try to identify yourselves with the poor by actually helping them.” Today most of us indulge in all sorts of activities like fasting, abstinence, meditations, offering masses,     holding mammoth prayer sessions and so on, imploring the

Kingdom of
God to come to us to heal us from all ills. We wait for the

Kingdom of
God by carrying out all these rituals but fail to appreciate that His Kingdom is within us.For us Christians, the

Kingdom of
God, is the love of Christ burning within our hearts, ready to be shared with others around us – our spouse, parents, children, priest, colleagues, friends, the poor and needy, the sick and dying and even our enemies.Gandhi realized this love of God within him and shared that love with the millions of downtrodden in
India. He saw God in the poor and the suffering and become one with them. By doing so he has demonstrated himself as a better Christian than many of us. “Man, for instance”,says Gandhi, “cannot be untruthful, cruel or incontinent and claim to have God on his side.”  In the light of these words of the Mahatma, where do WE stand in our daily life? 

Dr.Chris Anthony 

 

Meaning of Lent

Ashes – reminder of our mortal bodies

We have just celebrated Ash Wednesday with fast, abstinence, prayer and imposition of ashes on our foreheads.

When I was a boy, I still remember the words the priest uttered when imposing the ashes on my forehead – “Remember man that thou art dust and unto dust thou shall return”. These words of my priest were so meaningful that I still remember them by heart and repeat them to my children, who like many of the youngsters of today, hardly appreciate their significance.

The imposition of ashes reminds us, despite our social status, that we are all mere mortals and our physical bodies would perish one day. Reflecting on those words of the priest makes us realize that greed for material comforts is indeed foolish. In fact it is more important to cultivate the love of Christ that is within each and every one of us, which will bring everlasting rewards from God.

Today we leave our jobs and take leave to fast, abstain and receive the ashes without fail, but does the significance of the act really touch us in any way? Many of us don’t even know what the priest is saying or doing. We receive the ashes because it is a trend which we have to follow.

This is the reality of the fast moving world today, to follow the trend without knowing the meaning of our actions. If we don’t we’ll be left behind.

This is the real fear that is gripping us today, if we don’t join in the race that is determined by greed, selfishness and hate, we too will be left behind. As Christians can we say “NO” to this trend and follow that set by Christ?

Dr.Chris Anthony

Religion means to peace not violence

Religion must be means to peace, not violence
Dr Chris Anthony
Feb 8, 06 4:46pm

The world is once again thrown into crisis today with religious and cultural conflicts as a result of the caricatures depicting the Prophet Mohammad.

We all agree that press freedom has a limit. It should not be an excuse to ridicule any particular religion or culture. We should all vigorously condemn this abuse of press freedom wherever it occurs. At the same time the reaction to any such abuse should also be one of peaceful protest and not violence.

As believers we should understand that God and His prophets are far above all the demeaning actions of certain human beings. Human ridicule will not touch them in any way. As His followers we are asked to be patient and restrain from any violent reactions even if He is ridiculed and insulted. God – who is full of mercy and forgiveness – will definitely not condone any form of brutal retaliation from His followers.

As followers of whatever religion our words and deeds must bring pride to the faith we profess. Religion should be a means to peace not violence.

We need justice in civil court

We need justice in civil court not syariah court

The Prime Minister said the Nyonya Tahir case is proof that non-Muslims could get justice in the syariah court.

This is a serious misintepretaion of what the non-Muslims are asking for – not justice in the syariah court but justice in the civil court.At no time did the non-Muslims cast doubts on the fairness of the syariah court.Even former deputy prime mimister,Anwar Ibrahim, was denied trial in a syariah court for obvious reasons.

The civil court has been set up at the birth of the nation for all Malaysians,Muslims and non-Muslims,and it was serving its role effectively.

The Muslims wanted a separate system of justice for matters related to Islam and that gave rise to the syariah court.It was solely for Muslims.The non-Muslims want the civil system to continue be the main system of justice in the land.They may have the system alright but not  judges of calibre to deliver judgements without fear or favour.

Now when disputes between the Muslims and non-Muslims occur,the civil court refuses to even hear the case.The non-Muslims are told to defend themselves in the syariah court.The non-Muslims of differing faiths are unfairly subjected to syariah laws which are alien to them.

This may be the precursor leading to the making of the syariah courts the supreme court of the land and finally even replacing the civil courts.Ultimately Malaysia becomes a true Islamic state with with the syariah laws as the sole system.