YOU can download the entire Bible, whether in Bahasa Malaysia or Bahasa Indonesia, from the Internet. But to publish the Bible in the national language is a problem as it is restricted.
Churches that have tried to import the Bahasa Indonesia version have found it to be a hurdle too. The crux of the problem is the use of the word “Allah” in the Bible in the Bahasa Malaysia and Bahasa Indonesia versions. That has led to the current controversy over the confiscation of 15,000 Bibles in Bahasa Indonesia in recent months.
The Government and religious authorities have pointed out that it has been a long practice in Malaysia that the word “Allah” in reference to God is used only by Muslims.
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4 comments:
I know this is not the correct forum to highlight some shocking postings which had not failed to appear in Malaysiakini the past couple of days.
Yes, it is with regards to the killing of 5 Indians criminals in Klang by the Police.
Today, the HRP information chief, S, Sajathas, I hope I get his name correct, had in the afternoon, posted a posting which stated that Klang Police shot dead the husband of the lady who tried to commit suicide with her children.
Either erroneously or otherwise the posting had created serious question as to what control do we have over internet postings? Malaysiakini cannot be said to be not responsible for external site as it appeared in its "Of Interests" section for almost 12 hours!
Can postings from HRP in future be trusted? It is absolutely rascists and more dangerously it spewed absolute and total lies like what it did today.
Should not the information chief be visited by the Police? Perhaps, I am wrong in the interpretations, but Malaysiakini should not have allowed vague news to be placed in its site.
Let us pray for understanding that future HRP postings and Malaysiakini be more responsible to what it publishes.
I do not understand what all the fuss is about. If the government will not allow the use of the word "Allah" why don't the Christians simply use another word?
There are 26 letters in the alphabets, go figure; and there are other languages with their own word for "god" which would be more than happy for you to adopt them for a Bahasa bible.
So the word "Allah" has already been taken. Big deal. Get over it. Use another word. You will still achieve your objective of spreading the good news.
Is this a making a mountain out of a mole hill? And are people being deliberately obstinate? Being deprived of the use of ONE word - how serious is that? Especially if the others side express concerns that there may be confusion over the Islamic Allah and the Christian Allah.
Unless there is a finer point to it, I think people are just being obstinate. Sure, you have your constitutional rights etc. But are we looking for a solution, or we exercising our rights without compromise?
Bro,
You are absolutely right - God does not need us to compete for his attention. In fact in the Quran, Muhammad was commanded to say this to some people:
"They impress on you as a favour that they have embraced Islam. Say, "Count not your Islam as a favour upon me: Nay, God has conferred a favour upon you that He has guided you to the faith, if ye be true and sincere.(Quran: 49:17)
God never asks for quantity... however, men greedy for power and glory "sell God's name" for a miserable price:
"Then woe to those who write the Book with their own hands, and then say:"This is from God," to traffic with it for miserable price!- Woe to them for what their hands do write, and for the gain they make thereby".(Quran: 2:79)
And why the hindrance to let men choose their faith? Did God not say the following in the Quran:
"Those who believe (in the Qur'an), and those who follow the Jewish (scriptures), and the Christians and the Sabians,- ANY who believe in God and the Last Day, and work righteousness, shall have their reward with their Lord; on them shall be no fear nor shall they grieve" (Quran: 2:62)
When God has made us free, can the soul accept demigods on earth who want to enslave our souls???
Peace!
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