Columns

  • Lessons in solidarity from the Tham Luang cave rescue drama

    Jul 20, 2018

    Much of the world was held spellbound by the drama of the 12 boys and their coach who were trapped in treacherous flooded caves in northern Thailand from June 23 to July 10, 2018.

  • Real miracles

    Jul 13, 2018

    Ralph Waldo Emerson calls the stars in the night sky “envoys of beauty, lighting the universe with their astonishing smile” and submits that if they appeared for a single night only every thousand years, we’d be on our knees in worship and would cherish the memory for the rest of our lives.

  • Restoring paradise: The Garden of Bethlehem

    Jul 13, 2018

    Remember Joni Mitchell’s famous Big Yellow Taxi song, which we discussed here a few weeks ago, especially its haunting lament

  • The Mary of Scripture and the Mary of Devotions

    Jul 06, 2018

    There’s an axiom that says: Roman Catholics tend to adore Mary while Protestants and Evangelicals tend to ignore Mary. Neither is ideal.

  • A new chapter in interfaith relations

    Jul 06, 2018

    Our target is to reform and mould progressive Malays who embrace multiculturalism so that in the end, we will have Malays who identify themselves as Malaysians first, rather than Malays first.”

  • Mourning

    Jun 28, 2018

    Our culture doesn’t give us easy permission to mourn. Its underlying ethos is that we move on quickly from loss and hurt, keep our griefs quiet, remain strong always, and get on with life.

  • No effort too small in changing the world

    Jun 28, 2018

    This Sunday night, July 1, about 40 people – 20 Muslims and 20 Christians – are gathering at a resort in Bertam for a Raya celebration.

  • Stirring the smouldering ashes of our faith

    Jun 22, 2018

    Anyone who has ever watched a fire knows that at a point the flames subside and disappear into smoldering coals which themselves eventually cool and turn into cold, grey ash.

  • Now for a revolution in our value system in the new Malaysia

    Jun 22, 2018

    These are exciting, breathless days indeed as we witness the blistering pace of reforms along the path towards greater justice and freedom in our quest to build a model democracy.

  • Mercy, truth and pastoral practice

    Jun 08, 2018

    Recently a student I’d taught decades ago made this comment to me: “It’s been more than twenty years since I took your class and I’ve forgotten most e