Extremism is often associated with religion. Believers in secularism used to believe that only through secularism people of different faith would be able to exist peacefully because based on their experience religion had been the cause of intolerance, bigotry and war. Hence, it is suggested that the power of religion and its role in the society be curbed and minimised. So, secularisation has been chosen by the Western countries as the path to follow through.
However, Karen Leong argues in her article entitled “Violent and intolerant secularist” (published by Malaysiakini in 2001 and updated in 2008), that intolerance, violence and extremism are not exclusive to people of faith because there have always been secularists who are more violent, intolerant and extreme than the followers of religions. For example, The Khmer Rouge, who are atheists and extreme secularists had massacred a quarter of Cambodian population (about two million lives) between 1975 and 1979 in order to realise their secular utopia. Another example of intolerant secularist is communist Stalin and Mao Zedong who had starved to death millions of their own people. In Europe, Adolf Hitler had implemented his murderous agenda through his secular Nazi party. The intolerance and barbarity of the secularists is further exemplified by Maximilien Robespierre, who sought to replace Christianity with the worship of secular reason by killing thousands of Catholics using the guillotine.
Leong’s mentioning of the ugly history of secularism is aimed at many self-styled secularists in Malaysia, whom she describes as “either ignorant about the real meaning of secularism or they are actually practicing a religion that is just not called religion.” About two decades after the publication of the article, what Leong says in it remains true and relevant and her call for a balance thinking and self-criticism is appropriate.
Secularism has indeed become a new religion because, like the old religion it seeks to eradicate, some of its followers also think that its belief system is universal and immutable. In France assertive secularism, known as Laicite, has led to expected conflicts between the rights to self-determinism, local culture and religious freedom. Guided by Laicite policy France banned the wearing of burkini allegedly to protect France against Islamic extremism. The ban, however, has caused widespread outcry leading to its lifting in 2016 because it undermines fundamental rights and freedom. Radical secularism has indeed become a new civil religion with government ministers as its “priests”, the head of state as its “pontiff”, the intellectuals as its “acolytes” while the “heretics” are those who would call for a friendlier attitude towards religion.
Radical secularists would promote blasphemy as a right and a form of freedom of speech. When caricaturing Prophet Muhammad is not only allowed but also defended by France in the name of the right to blaspheme the society, which has about 8 percent Muslim population, descents into hell due to provocation, counter provocation and deadly violence. It is obvious that the secularists somehow have an obsessive focus towards Islam and the Muslims as exemplified by their fondness to stigmatising and humiliating Muslims and Islamic teachings.
For a multi-ethnic and multi-religious country like Malaysia where the Muslims are majority, and Islam is recognised by the constitution as the religion of the Federation, the call by some quarters for a more secular Malaysia only betrays plain ignorance and bigotry. It is an ignorance because as far as Islam is concerned there is no dichotomy between the life in this world and the eternal life in the hereafter, so secularism is irrelevant as the hereafter is the ultimate aim of this worldly life. Every true Muslim would therefore strive to make the best out of this life in order to achieve eternal happiness in the hereafter by living an ethical life according to the laws of God.
While the Muslims are known for their tolerance and kindness towards others, they also would not shy to come together in order to defend their religion and way of life against enmity, oppression, disrespectful attitude and arrogance. The secularists must be reminded that just as religious extremism is unacceptable so is secular extremism and the condescending behaviour of the secular extremists.
