Of course, few if any serious religious believers of any tradition would agree that “all religions are equally true and equally good.” The problem here is that while this Malaysian government entity says that “national unity should be nurtured by encouraging the uniqueness of each religious tradition and simultaneously encouraging the attitude of mutual goodwill, mutual empathy and mutual love as fellow neighbours and fellow human beings,” on the ground the situation is not so rosy. Muslims have special legal rights that non-Muslims do not have, which indicates yet again that all too often, when Islamic spokesmen speak about harmony and mutual respect among religions, they do not mean that all religious believers should enjoy equal legal rights.
“Press Statement Institute Of Islamic Understanding Malaysia (IKIM) on Religious Pluralism,” from the Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia, December 15 (thanks to Rose):
The Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia (IKIM) wishes to clarify that:
Firstly, Islam rejects religious pluralism which claims that all religions are equally true and equally good.
Secondly, only one religion possesses the perfect and complete revelation, that is, Islam (see the Qur’an, Al-Maidah, 5:3)….
Fourthly, national unity should be nurtured by encouraging the uniqueness of each religious tradition and simultaneously encouraging the attitude of mutual goodwill, mutual empathy and mutual love as fellow neighbours and fellow human beings who originate from one living entity despite their religious differences….