'When a newspaper Ramadan supplement featured non-halal outlets, certain people bay for blood, but it's perfectly okay to...'

Christian groups permit prostitution, says report

Dood: Amazing what one can get away with if one is promoting Umno-BN's agenda. When a newspaper publishes a dining supplement during Ramadan that featured non-halal outlets, certain people bay for blood.

But apparently it's perfectly okay to portray as "facts" things like Christianity permitting prostitution.

I challenge those who think Umno-BN is being "fair" in their treatment to try publishing the same report as in Sinar Harian or Utusan Malaysia by substituting "Kristian" with "Islam".

David Dass: Islam or Muslim bashing is unnecessary. The irresponsible and malicious writing and publishing of vicious and ridiculous nonsense is the work of a few. These few should be brought to book. Most Malays would not subscribe to such nonsense. It is for our leaders to distance themselves from such acts.

These acts are designed to set Malays against non-Malays, Muslims against non-Muslims. Do not rise to the bait and by your responses alienate all Malays and all Muslims. Christians are like everybody else. Christianity abhors sin. Sexual discipline is a Christian virtue as it is a virtue among people of all religions.

Prostitution for the most part occurs because of economic necessity. And occurs when the state fails to provide sufficient jobs and food and sustenance. Who in this case has committed the sin? The prostitute or the corrupt who steal from the state?

It is good that the article has been withdrawn and an apology issued. But the question must be asked - why was it written and why was it published in the first instance? It reveals such a distorted, perverted and ignorant view of Christians and Christianity.

Recent articles reek of xenophobia as they point out the dangers of Muslims interacting with non-Muslims. And in doing so, not only do they criticise and condemn non-Muslims as decadent and immoral but also suggest that there is something wrong with Indonesian society. These people have lost their bearings.

Anonymous_3dbe: Many Muslims have mistaken between Western culture and Christian culture. This is just like saying most Muslims are terrorists because some are involved in terrorism.

Tailek: I would recommend that Sinar Harian send an investigative reporter to all the karaoke joints, massage parlours and night clubs and see how many Malay GROs (guest relations officers) and massage girls work in such places.

There are many, I assure you, but that certainly does not mean Islam permits prostitution. For that matter, no religion permits or encourages prostitution.

The authorities should haul up the editor of this newspaper and retract their publishing permit for printing such a slanderous and seditious article. But we all know, that's not going to happen.

Silas Jugdip: This is not the first time such things have been said about Christians. In the early days, Christians were accused of cannibalism - eating human flesh and drinking human blood in their observance of the Holy Communion.

The western lifestyle is not Christian or the biblical lifestyle. For Sinar Harian to say such shows how ignorant they are - truly ‘katak dibawah tempurung'.

Fairness for all: I am not a Christian but a Hindu. Still, I believe that one should not make false accusations against any religion. There are many Malay prostitutes around as well, so does it mean that Islam also permits prostitution?

Not Confused: Once again, Islam is being portrayed as a weak and defensive faith that needs continuous and robust propping up to stop it being pushed around by other religions.

I just do not understand the mentality of some of the so-called learned Islamists who constantly feel the need to protect a religion that is so obviously strong and not in need of the crutches it keeps being given.

Muslims are rarely, if ever, "confused" or really hurt. It's the "guardians" of Islam that bang on relentlessly about the confusion and hurt that Muslims feel, but are really being condescending and are insulting the intelligence of Muslims worldwide.

Justom: If this isn't the most confused set of lies, I don't know what else to call it. This is grossly provocative and totally uncalled for. It's like schoolchildren calling names when angry. This is a poor reflection of Islamic 'journalism' in Malaysia.

EugeneT: This is totally preposterous. Now the newspaper wants to paint Christianity as the bogeyman and perpetrators of social illness?

I'm dumbfounded to hear one of the stupidest things ever published. The newspaper and their chief editors should be hauled up and punished by the Home Ministry for publishing such ridiculous lies and malicious slander.

Disbeliever: Sinar Harian , Berita Harian , Utusan Malaysia and other pro-government media will say anything to run down other religions. If it had been the reverse, they would have made a big hue and cry about it.

My dear fellow Christians, let them say whatever they want to say. God is watching. Stay calm. "Forgive them for they know not what they are doing."

Rick Teo: No religion encourages the practice of vices like prostitution, but most do not enforce it rigorously. The religion allows the individual to make their own decision and if they sin, then they face punishment from God, not from men.

Neders: Are these fellas for real or what? It seems they would do or say anything to get Muslim votes to stay in power.

Christianity promoting decadent behaviour? What rubbish. Let them say whatever they like, because the more they say, the more stupid they sound.

People Power: It's amazing that the various government agencies can allow such incredible stories be printed and go unchallenged. Can anyone show one instance where in Christian scriptures such things are commanded?

I can understand Muslims being opposed by what is taught in Christianity. But to lie outright and write such false accusations, either the writer, editor and the press room of the paper is ignorant ( jahil ) or evil.

It is obvious they hold truth to be of no value, thereby rendering their own belief in Islam also to be tenuous, if not non-existent.

Lulu: The Ministry of Education, which has a monopoly on what our children learn, is the biggest propagator of encouraging free mingling between the sexes. All our schools are co-ed, whereas the ‘Christian' schools of old were either all-girls or all-boys. Terrible, our MOE.

Ferdtan: Since Utusan Malaysia has lost creditability with its readers with their numerous unbridled untruths appearing in many of their articles, the baton is now conveniently passed to Sinar Harian to do an 'execution job' on controversial issue of apostasy of Muslims by so-called 'Christian apostasy movement'.

Sinar Harian , formed only in 2006, is owned by Kumpulan Karangkraf. The use of this up-and-coming tabloid could be because of its popularity in the Malay-dominated east coast of Kelantan,Trengganu and Pahang.

This article, including the one recently, are quite uncharacteristic of their claims as to its impartial and objective news content. Expect more articles of this sort to come out.

The bogeyman: read Christianity, appears to be the winning weapon of Umno in the war of perception in the hearts and minds of the Muslim, particularly in the rural corner of the country. Pakatan Rakyat would be well-advised to take heed of this before it gets out of hand.

Wira: Please introduce me to a church that encourages and permits prostitution. I've been a Christian all my life, and I've never gotten to experience one.

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