Malaysian row over word for 'God'

GraceAbounds · 12-30-2007, 08:40 PM

Malaysian row over word for 'God'
A church and Christian newspaper in Malaysia are suing the government after it decreed that the word "Allah" can only be used by Muslims. In the Malay language "Allah" is used to mean any god, and Christians say they have used the term for centuries.
Opponents of the ban say it is unconstitutional and unreasonable.
It is the latest in a series of religious rows in largely Muslim Malaysia, where minority groups claim their rights are being eroded.
A spokesman for the Herald, the newspaper of the Catholic Church in Malaysia, said a legal suit was filed after they received repeated official warnings that the newspaper could have its licence revoked if it continued to use the word.
"We are of the view that we have the right to use the word 'Allah'," said editor Rev Lawrence Andrew.
'Unlawful'
The Sabah Evangelical Church of Borneo has also taken legal action after a government ministry moved to ban the import of religious children's books containing the word.
In a statement given to Reuters news agency, the church said the translation of the bible in which the word Allah appears has been used by Christians since the earliest days of the church.
There has been no official government comment but parliamentary opposition leader Lim Kit Siang said the decision to ban the word for non-Muslims on security grounds was "unlawful".
"The term 'Allah' was used to refer to God by Arabic-speaking Christians before Arabic-speaking Muslims existed," he said.
Religious issues are highly sensitive in Malaysia, which has a 60% Muslim population.
Religious freedom is guaranteed in the law but minority groups have accused the Muslim Malay majority of trying to increase the role of Islam in the country.
BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | Malaysian row over word for 'God'

Peter Parka · 01-01-2008, 08:53 AM

http://www.offtopicz.com/23863-malay...ord-allah.html

debbie t · 01-01-2008, 09:00 AM

i am now choosing to say "the energy formally known as God"

is safer,easier and causes less agro...no bugger that

god god allah allah jesus jesus yahweh yahweh!!!!!!!!!!!!!felt good

GraceAbounds · 01-01-2008, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by debbie t

god god allah allah jesus jesus yahweh yahweh!!!!!!!!!!!!!felt good

Ditto!

12-30-2007, 08:40 PM	#1
GraceAbounds V.I.P User Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 7,324 Tokenz: 1,832	Malaysian row over word for 'God' Malaysian row over word for 'God' A church and Christian newspaper in Malaysia are suing the government after it decreed that the word "Allah" can only be used by Muslims. In the Malay language "Allah" is used to mean any god, and Christians say they have used the term for centuries. Opponents of the ban say it is unconstitutional and unreasonable. It is the latest in a series of religious rows in largely Muslim Malaysia, where minority groups claim their rights are being eroded. A spokesman for the Herald, the newspaper of the Catholic Church in Malaysia, said a legal suit was filed after they received repeated official warnings that the newspaper could have its licence revoked if it continued to use the word. "We are of the view that we have the right to use the word 'Allah'," said editor Rev Lawrence Andrew. 'Unlawful' The Sabah Evangelical Church of Borneo has also taken legal action after a government ministry moved to ban the import of religious children's books containing the word. In a statement given to Reuters news agency, the church said the translation of the bible in which the word Allah appears has been used by Christians since the earliest days of the church. There has been no official government comment but parliamentary opposition leader Lim Kit Siang said the decision to ban the word for non-Muslims on security grounds was "unlawful". "The term 'Allah' was used to refer to God by Arabic-speaking Christians before Arabic-speaking Muslims existed," he said. Religious issues are highly sensitive in Malaysia, which has a 60% Muslim population. Religious freedom is guaranteed in the law but minority groups have accused the Muslim Malay majority of trying to increase the role of Islam in the country. BBC NEWS \| Asia-Pacific \| Malaysian row over word for 'God' __________________ "The American people will never knowingly adopt socialism. But, under the name of "liberalism," they will adopt every fragment of the socialist program, until one day America will be a socialist nation, without knowing how it happened." - Norman Thomas, U.S. Socialist Party presidential candidate 1940, 1944 and 1948

01-01-2008, 08:53 AM	#2
Peter Parka It's Business Time Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Harlow, Essex, England Posts: 22,634 Tokenz: 153,609	Re: Malaysian row over word for 'God' http://www.offtopicz.com/23863-malay...ord-allah.html __________________

01-01-2008, 09:00 AM	#3
debbie t Banned Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: loving georgie best.football hero Posts: 6,631 Tokenz: 1,022	Re: Malaysian row over word for 'God' i am now choosing to say "the energy formally known as God" is safer,easier and causes less agro...no bugger that god god allah allah jesus jesus yahweh yahweh!!!!!!!!!!!!!felt good

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