A Few Thoughts on how Religion Affects Everyone

I had a holiday in Bali some years ago and on Sunday, my wife and I decided to attend Sunday mass. So we took a taxi and were wondering whether the driver would know where the church was located. We were also slightly concerned we could be taken on a ride to nowhere or worse.

We were pleasantly surprised to learn that the authorities actually allocated a large area of land where a mosque, a church and a temple were built in the same area. It is the authorities way of trying to foster religious harmony.

In Shah Alam, it is a matter of public record that the Catholic Church was forced to move after it had started piling works on a new church.


I watched this interview with the Prime Minister of a Middle Eastern country, Jordan if I recall correctly. He was asked about his religion and practice. His reply was that he was Muslim, his wife was Christian and they agreed that their children would decide later what religion they wanted to follow.
I understand that in many countries, a Muslim may marry a Christian (the so-called “children of the Book”) without having to convert.


A family friend had this experience.
A Chinese man sired a son when he was a plantation manager and the woman was a Malay. He lived with his usual family but he continued to take care of his other son who even managed to graduate.

His wife passed on before him and when he became seriously ill, there was no one around to care for him but this other son. He converted and died as a Muslim.


Sometimes one can only wonder what is going to happen when people are forced to stay in any particular religion when they have no interest anymore...