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By: Reverend Leopold Glueckert, O.Carm.
Carmelite Benny Phang is wrapping up a nearly 5-year residence at Whitefriars Hall, where he has pursued a program of doctoral studies in Moral Theology at Catholic University. When he returns to his province in Indonesia, he will very likely begin teaching at the Theological Union in Malang. But he has already gained notoriety and credibility among his countrymen through his writing.
Last year, Benny wrote an essay entitled, “A Critique of the False Understanding of Martyrdom” which was published across Indonesia, amid much acclaim. Martyrdom, of course, has been the stated justification for jihadists and suicide bombers among the Muslim militants in the Middle East. Since Indonesia is the world’s largest Islamic country, that hot topic is of great interest there as well.
Benny points out that his fellow citizens are a somewhat different audience than the “Muslims” which most westerners envision. There are 240 million people in Indonesia, of whom nearly 85% are Muslims. Christians are growing fast in both numbers and influence, however. Their converts come from the Hindu, Buddhist, and Confucian communities, and even a few Muslims. The vast majority of Indonesian Muslims (98%, he says) are moderate, kind and peaceful. At least a quarter of those are highly intellectual people, who read widely, and thrive on a vigorous exchange of views in the national media. So when Benny’s article was published, it was widely read and discussed.
His initial motivation was anger at the suicide bombings in Bali, in which the bombers were loudly claimed to be martyrs for their faith. Using his finely tuned learning as a moralist, Benny took on that perception, and appealed to the conscience of Indonesians. He pointed out that the suicide bombers were not martyrs. They were not holy, but sinful, in causing the deaths of innocent people. It is one thing to die defending one’s faith, but in that case, death is the result, not the purpose.
He contends that such a false martyr begins with the need to kill someone, and must therefore invent an enemy, especially if one does not already exist. In such cases, he needs to rationalize a theory that his victims are not humans at all, but some sort of cosmic evil, worthy only of death. To find and punish such an adversary is symbolic and artificial, not based on any real factors. Intending to kill other people for motives of religion cannot be an act of faith, but of brutality. It is simply a mistake in logic to assert any such notion, and therefore an insult to any clear thinking person.
Benny sent his article to Indonesia’s second largest paper, Suara Pembaruan, (The Voice of Renewal) where it was published the next day. Since he simply attempted to speak as a human, not as a Christian or a Muslim, he appealed to the conscience of the nation. He learned from friends that his essay had sparked a great deal of discussion. Some had criticized his use of Christian morality, but he insisted that the moral logic applies to any situation in which honest people apply moral principles. A Jesuit friend of his used the occasion to publish a similar essay in the periodical Kompas.
A year earlier, Benny had submitted to the same journal another condemnation of militant tactics. He identified a tiny group of poor and uneducated people, whom others had paid to study in Afghanistan and Pakistan. There, they had imbibed a more toxic form of Islam from preachers of the puritanical Wahhabi sect, which detests all unbelievers. Benny referred to these gullible foot soldiers as “useful idiots” who were manipulated by unscrupulous controllers. In the name of religion, they went on to kill, injure, and disrupt the natural harmony of a tolerant society. That earlier article had also been widely quoted.
During the previous five years, Benny has been no stranger to Indonesian publishers. He contributed several short articles for a Q & A section in the monthly bulletin of the Indonesian Catholic Community. There were longer articles on the personhood of the early human embryo, and the weakness of civic friendship. Another discussed the balance between marriage and celibacy for the Kingdom. He wrote a critique of utilitarianism in religious practices. Still another article questioned “What is Morality? What is Etiquette?” As if that were not enough, he has taken part in several talk shows on Voice of America. One discussed the Christmas spirit with a Protestant minister. Another dealt with celebrations and relations between Christians and Muslims. In yet another, he talked about the election of Pope Benedict. Whatever else, timidity is not one of his shortcomings!
When Benny returns home to his province, he will certainly find a wider scope for his ideas. He will probably join the faculty of the Widya Sasana, a Sanskrit title meaning “Arena of Knowledge.” It is the philosophy and theology school established at Malang by the Carmelites and Vincentians. Currently, there are between 500 and 600 students there, including about one-third of all priesthood candidates in Indonesia. Together with a healthy mixture of religious and lay people, the students pursue undergraduate and graduate degrees in philosophy and theology. Benny will be teaching Moral Theology, of course, which he calls “the most down to earth of the studies.” Especially in such fields as biomedical ethics, he sees a link between the Bible and the world’s real problems. Benny says that the work of study can be tiring, but is certainly worth it!
Who doubts that he will do well? He’s already clearly on his way!
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