Dr Alexander John Malik Former Bishop of Lahore

Born on October 1, 1944, in Martinpur, District Sheikhpura, Dr Alexander John Malik, is the longest-serving Bishop in the history of the Anglican Church of the Subcontinent.

After graduating from PU, Lahore, Bishop Malik got his diploma from Bishop’s College Calcutta and degree of Bachelor of Divinity from Serampur University, India. He got his Master’s degree from McGill University, Canada, and his Doctorate of Divinity from Wheaton College, USA. While studying at the Islamic Research Center in McGill University, he worked on his PhD thesis based on the life of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).  Bishop Malik is a strong advocate of a mission to unite Pakistan under the flag of compassion and interfaith harmony. Realising the need to create interfaith harmony, he established Lahore Diocesan Interfaith Forum that conducts seminars and conferences. He vociferously speaks up for Christians as an integral part of Pakistan’s identity. Bishop Malik was named as a person of international achievement by International Biographical Centre of Cambridge in 1991. Church of Pakistan Lahore Diocese (COPLD) has honoured Bishop Malik with the title of Emeritus Bishop of Lahore.

Recently, he visited the office of Jahangir’s World Times where he graciously poured his heart out to us on the burning issues relating to interfaith harmony

Jahangir’s World Times (JWT): What is the significance of religion in a man’s life?
Alexander John Malik (AJM): Religion, as you know, is a set of beliefs, ethics and principles of life and worship. And all these things ultimately lead to an end that is to create a strong bond between the Creator and the created ones. Understanding this relationship is inevitable, if a man wants to be a good human being. Furthermore, we, as Christians, believe that ‘God is Love’, and I think this concept is there in all religions. But today, unfortunately, we see more emphasis on bodily needs rather than the spiritual ones as well as peace that is the core of all religions.

JWT: All religions lay special emphasis on moral values then why human soul is still suffering?
AJM: Well, while talking about moral values, culture and society cannot be overlooked because values cannot be understood from the religious perspective only. For instance, Hijab is not only related to religion, it’s a part of culture as well. Suppose, in Pakistan, we find the use of Hijab more prevalent in KP and Balochistan. But, it doesn’t mean that women in other parts of Pakistan are of poor character. What happens is that we try to apply religion only on human body, not the soul. But, there is a human inside every man, and we neglect that inside human. That’s the reason behind the sufferings of human soul.

JWT: Do you think religion and culture overlap each other?
AJM: No, actually, the sole problem is that we portray culture as religion. For instance, the practice of Karo-Kari is against Islam, but people do this heinous act. Our marriage traditions have imprints of Hindu culture but, in Pakistan, Muslims and Christians both are following these traditions alike. The Bengalis are Muslims, yet they don’t adopt our culture as they think of their culture to be richer than that of ours. Therefore, we must not mix the culture with the religion. And the crux of religion is spirituality which connects the inner soul of human to the God and we must concentrate on that.

JWT: How interfaith harmony can promote tolerance throughout the world?
AJM: First of all, space must be given to all the religions. We must accept the reality that other religions, besides ours, do exist. The problem is we think only ourselves right and truthful but not others. Why is it so? I would also mention here that I had seen the tolerance and love for humanity to its extremes in Abdul Sattar Edhi and Mother Teresa. Edhi, a great man with simple appearance, helps everyone irrespective of his religion, cast or creed. I had personally met Mother Teresa. She always said, ‘I want to give a dignified burial to these human beings. Who are they? I have nothing to do with it.’

Actually, when our perceptions differ, we start imposing our views on others. Today, Shias and Sunnis are fighting, Roman Catholics and Protestants are at odds, just because each sect deems itself to be the sole custodian of the faith.

I do believe that for a tolerant and peaceful world, interfaith harmony is direly needed. And, for this, we have to accept the existence of other religions.

JWT: Do you think that political parties lack a vision for minorities in Pakistan?
AJM: Actually, it isn’t a new problem; its roots can be traced from the British system of separate electorates for all minorities in India. And, at independence of Pakistan, this system was intact and is still being followed. That’s why the political parties lack any vision for the minorities. Nevertheless, I believe that we all voted together for Pakistan. We are one nation; our ballot boxes should never be separate.

JWT: Would you like to give any message on the Christmas?
AJM: Christmas is the message of love and I must not stay at Cathedral but I should go to other places and spread the message of love, and I think ‘acceptance’ is more appropriate word than tolerance. My message is that Christmas contains the spirit of love, harmony and acceptance, and Quaid-e-Azam also gave the same message to the nation in his speech on 11th August 1947. We must not dig out the bitterness of past; let’s go ahead for a better future, and a peaceful and tolerant Pakistan.
Pakistan Zindabad!