377A - Phantom Menace 3

When the three biggest monotheistic faiths come together in unity to publicly declare that they do not support the repeal of 377A, I think the die is cast.

Finally, LHL and Shanmugan have their majority, which they have been talking about. 

I dare say that 377A has indeed unified three seemingly irreconcilable faiths and symbolically represented more than half of the world’s population to stand for what is gender purity, the traditional family through the legal marriage of a man and a woman, and the social and moral values of society.

The Singapore Islamic Scholars and Religious Teachers Association (Pergas) has made it clear that there are “worrying implications” such as the population issue if the gay lifestyle is legalised and normalised with the repeal of 377A. 

This is what Pergas said: “if Section 377A is to be repealed, it will further affect the population growth of this country, which we understand is a major concern of the Government.”

Pergas added: “This stand is based not only on religious grounds, but also due to our concern towards moral and social values that can affect the family institution as well as the fabric of society.”

Lesson? Just one. 

This has to be said: When people of faith come together, we witness great things done in the name of their God. 

Undoubtedly, everyone of them openly professes to represent purity, uprightness and the moral conscience of society. 

When they are not competing (whether overtly or covertly) on who’s omnipotence is truer, or true, period, the moral as well as social goals their religion espouses contribute positively and enduringly to our society. 

Many critics have written about the evils of religion, the wars they have created or supported directly or indirectly, the corruption and sexual scandals within the rank and file, and the hypocrisy of their leadership when they mix faith with politics, but I choose to believe that their existence has been a net positive gain for our globalised world. 

Alas, in a sea of absurdity, they are like the lighthouse guiding many to safe shores, shortcoming notwithstanding. 

But, if there is one thing that bugs me about religion until this day, it is well captured in these words of Dietrich Bonhoeffer: -

"The pious fellowship permits no one to be a sinner. So everybody must conceal his sin from himself and from the fellowship. We dare not be sinners." 

That is the real ”hot-button” issue today. 

When it is said that you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free, I sincerely believe that one of the freedoms intended in that promise was to be set us free not only from the indictment of sin so that we can go forward and pursue righteousness, but also from the avoidance of the admission of sin so that we do not fall into the trap of being self-righteous. 

I think that was what Bonhoeffer meant when he said that “the pious fellowship permits no one to be a sinner.”

For this reason, religion may be a safe haven that purifies the sinners in their search for forgiveness and redemption and it may also be an exclusive club that disqualifies the sinners in their search for acceptance and community. 

The religious phenomenon is that when the religion gets bigger, the sinner in our leadership (or in us) tends to retreat from public view due to the immense pressure to put on a burnished image of invulnerability. 

The greater the number, the fame and the wealth, the further the sinner hides from the public eye. Sooner or later, it mutates quite unknowingly from the denial of self to the self resisting denial. 

Let me end with this narration. 

One day Charles Swindoll met his mentor Jim Peterson and he asked him, "How do you do it, Jim?" Under Jim's capable leadership, the ministry of the Navigators expanded greatly. Charles said, "Tell me the secret of ministering to people." 

He was expecting Jim to say "Always set the pace," or "Be strong no matter what," or "Model the truth and stand against the gale as it attackes you." But he got none of that. 

Jim just smiled and said, "Chuck, let people see the cracks in your life, and you'll be able to minister to them.

That brings me back to the divisive 377A. Needless to say, we must all stand for what is right, regardless of our religious affiliation. 

And in standing for what is right, we must never put what is right as a concept above human relationship as a way of connecting with them.

For most time, it is not our position that matters more, but our methods. 

And now that the religious faiths have made themselves crystal clear about their stand on 377A, the greater work to be carried out is to reach out to those deeply affected and profoundly confused (especially the young ones). 

For my prayer is that Lord, if we are wrong, make us willing to make amends. And if we are right, make us easy to live with. Amen. Cheerz.