Religion and culture are strongly intertwined here in Malaysia. The national religion of Malaysia is Islam and you'll hear the Muslim call to prayer five times per day, as it resounds throughout every town. There is at least one large mosque is every city, and these places of worship are open to all. I have visited a few mosques (photos attached) and am freely able to explore and ask questions, even though I am not Muslim. People here who tend to be Muslim are the Malaysian Malays. Those who are Indian Malays tend to practice Hinduism, and Chinese Malays usually practice Buddhism or Christianity. I am a Christian, so these past few weeks have made me think about what is important to me in my religion, why I believe the things I believe and how Christianity is perceived by people of other religions.
People who live in Malaysia celebrate every religious holiday, even if it's for a religion they do not follow. I find this to be beautiful because it reminds us of the importance of our values, loved ones and time together, rather than dividing ourselves based on religious beliefs or background.
