Christmas and religious tolerance

It's yet another Christmas Eve in Sri Lanka. With festivities on a lower key and people mindful of the sufferings of fellow Sri Lankans as a result of the Northern insurgency on the one hand, floods on the other and the sky rocketing cost of living to cap it all, it is an opportune time to reflect on religious tolerance in general and the true meaning and message of Christmas in particular.

We saw an attempt at disharmony by a bunch of hotheads sending threatening messages asking Christians not to celebrate the birth of their Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ because our soldiers are dying in the battlefields of the North and East.

Their attempt to mar this holy day for Christians did not receive support from the vast majority of the people of this country, who are non-Christians, and the Catholic Bishops wisely issued a message urging restraint in celebrations - referring to the war, floods etc.

Archbishop Oswald Gomis called on Catholics to look after the needs of others in the true spirit of sharing, rather than focusing on themselves. His words were a timely reminder of the many thousands of Sri Lankans for whom this is a time of war and misery, living in fear and uncertainty in the conflict areas, away from home, and in refugee camps where Christmas will be just another day of continuing misery.

This year, it is hoped, many families would, while celebrating their Christmas at home be doing more for those in need. Churches across the country have indeed spearheaded this effort to reach out to the needy, the sick and the aged.

The fact is that Christmas is a special time of year for all Sri Lankans. And the spirit in which Christmas is respected, and enjoyed even by non-Christians has not gone un-noticed by visitors to this country around this time of year. No doubt, it also coincides with the end of a working calendar year and is a welcome opportunity for families and friends to get together, renew old ties and enjoy a spirit of sharing and goodwill.

It is indeed very unusual in most countries for people of different faiths to join in the celebrations of significant religious events of others. But this has been a long and hallowed tradition in our country.

Sri Lanka's religious and cultural diversity has been hailed by travellers through the centuries, up-to-date, though the country remains much misunderstood in some corners of the world as one where religious tolerance is poor, for that certainly is not the case. It would be a great pity if events of the recent past, and the Northern insurgency were to cast a shadow over this feature of our country.

Religious freedom in Sri Lanka has for years been remarkable. Even in the so-called liberal democracies of the West, this kind of religious freedom and tolerance is not seen. In the city of London for instance, a Buddhist Vihara cannot simply build a dagoba for veneration. Whatever construction must conform to the city council by-laws on buildings and architecture. But in Sri Lanka, viharas, churches, mosques and kovils are found on the same street, cheek by jowl with each other, with no eyebrows raised, each with their own distinctive symbols of worship.

Sadly in the eyes of the world, it is only the aberrations that are highlighted - not the general mores of the people of Sri Lanka. It is unfortunate that such acts are misunderstood by the outside world and Sri Lanka is perceived by some to be a country that persecutes minorities.

Just as many non- Christians would share in the Christmas customs by putting up a Christmas tree in their homes, many non- Buddhists too share the serenity of Vesak, and join with their neighbours in making Vesak lanterns. Such sharing is something schools today have taken trouble to inculcate and this understanding, appreciation, tolerance and respect for the beliefs of others is what we need to foster.

What is marring this harmony is the misplaced zeal of some INGOs whose job is proselytization - exploiting the economic hardship and difficult conditions faced by some of our people. These new churches are the ones who challenge established religions using big bucks in their efforts to win people over.

There is thus, a need for religious leaders to play a major role in encouraging religious harmony. This is not difficult in Sri Lanka, because people have grown up with this kind of amity.

As the church bells ring out tonight heralding another Christmas, we should perhaps, pause to remember that first Christmas -- when the babe of Bethlehem chose to be born not in a royal palace but in a lowly cattle-shed and in so doing chose to be identified not with the rich and mighty but with the poor and suffering. Remember too, that in His message of peace on earth, goodwill to all mankind - there is reason to rejoice this Christmas and hope and pray that all Sri Lankans will experience this in the days to come.