Poster amended, fake nun still speaking at seminar

Yasmin Ramlan Yasmin Ramlan Updated 6 years ago · Published on 24 Nov 2017 5:50PM · 3 Comments

Students of comparative religion at Kolej Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Selangor will attend an ‘Understanding Christology’ seminar, led by an Indonesian Muslim next month. – EPA pic, November 24, 2017.

AN Indonesian woman will still speak at the “Understanding Christology” seminar although the organisers have decided to omit the words “mantan rahib” (former nun) from their promotional posters.

According to the organiser, Nur Fitrah, the decision to amend its posters came after public outcry over the description “former nun” used to describe speaker Irene Handono.

The “Understanding Christology” seminar will be held at Kolej Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Selangor (KUIS) from December 9-10.

Nur Fitrah said it was under the impression that a person can be called a “former nun” if she had undergone postulancy or pre-training.

In the Catholic tradition, priest and nun candidates have to undergo a period of one or two years acquiring knowledge of religious life before entering the novitiate.

Nur Fitrah caused a stir yesterday when posters advertising the “Understanding Christology” seminar surfaced on social media.

In the poster, Irene was described as a “former nun” and would speak on the subject of Christology.

Irene and another Indonesian speaker L.S. Mokoginta had sparked a controversy in 2014 when they spoke at a seminar organised by Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) on the subject of Christology.

Besides Christian bashing, the two had claimed to be a former nun and priest from Indonesia. But a check with the Bishops Conference of Indonesia (BCI) revealed that Irene and Mokoginta’s claims were fake.

Nur Fitrah said the confusion was due to different interpretations.

“According to the Malaysian Muslim understanding, a person who has professed to being a nun and has undergone some monastery training is a former nun,” said Nur Fitrah.

“Our interpretation, however, is in conflict with the Christian meaning that nun candidates who have quit or candidates who did not fulfil their conditions or ordination cannot be called former nuns.

“But in order not to prolong this argument, Nur Fitrah will drop the words ‘former nun’ from our promotional posters for the event.”

Nur Fitrah said the event is restricted to Muslims and other targeted groups.

“The official letters and materials have only been sent to the programme’s targeted audience. We invited Ibu Irene based on her capacity as a Muslim who has knowledge about Christology to share her information and experience with us,” said Nur Fitrah.

“The programme is targeted at Muslim students who are studying comparative religion and Muslim evangelists in Malaysia,” it added.

“We apologise if our poster has offended anyone.”

A check on Facebook showed that the original event page with the poster has been deleted.

Meanwhile, Nur Fitrah did not answer questions on whether it has obtained the relevant approvals for the event from the Selangor Islamic Council (Mais).

It was reported today that KUIS will be asked to investigate whether Nur Fitrah has applied to Mais to hold the event.

“I have been told that Kuis is checking. They told me that the organiser (Nur Fitrah) has to get approvals from Mais,” Selangor executive councillor Ahmad Yunus Hairi told The Malaysian Insight. – November 24, 2017.

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Comments

  • Spreading ketuanan melayu sunni wal rasuah teachings

    Posted 6 years ago by Leslie Chan · Reply

  • If Nur Fitrah and Irene Handono can't even understand who might be considered a "former nun in the Roman Catholic tradition how on earth can the former invite and the latter speak on Christology, a much more theological subject that requires very serious study? If Nur Fitrah is really serious about helping Muslims understand Christology it would be much better for her audience to learn it from the horse's mouth, so to speak. Invite a Christian theologian to speak on the subject.

    Posted 6 years ago by Soon Hock Lim · Reply

  • Actually what is the main purpose of holding this seminar????. For Muslim to understand the journey of Christianity and the religious doctrine does it help to further enhance the faith in Muslim to be stronger or using it as a sand bag for thrashing and have the Muslim loathing the others who are Non Muslim. The two main speakers who were ex Christian were already declared as fake. Bringing them into the country is like inviting ISIS into the country in bashing up others who are not of the same fate. It does not lend credence to the fostering of unity and tolerance of other religion. The MO1 proclaimation to the world in enforcing of Moderate Islam in the country will be view as a facade and a mockery of his stale choreographic pony dance. The daily on slaught of bigots and racist in their ruckus of condemning of others are increasingly creating the unwarranted explosive situation.The country religious tolerance level are already stretched to its utmost thin and frail line of seperation and almost in wanting to burst out for a choatic confrontation. Promoting and relenting to such workshop and seminar which are more perceive to finding faults are of no value but more to damnation in the guise of understanding other religion to ensure one own religion remain superior. Live and lets live instaed of creating a mayhem to the country where no one will benefits. Chaos and commotions are race and reigion blind

    Posted 6 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply