Religious Diversity in Singapore

edited by Lai Ah Eng

Religious and ethno-religious issues are inherent in many multiethnic and multi-religious societies. Singapore society is no exception. It has long been multiethnic, multicultural and multi-religious, being at the crossroads of many major and minor civilizations, cultures and traditions, and its religious diversity continues to develop in the current contexts of growing religiosity, religious change and conflict often in the name of religion. Despite this background, there is lack of in-depth knowledge, nuanced understanding and regular dialogue about religions and the meanings of living in a multi-religious world.

This volume covering major themes of Singapore’s religious landscape, religion in schools and among the young, religion in the media, religious involvement in social services, and interfaith issues and interaction fills important gaps in the knowledge and understanding of Singapore’s religious diversity and complexity. A collective effort of researchers and practitioners, it is a timely and useful reference for scholars, decision-makers, leaders and practitioners as well as for concerned citizens and followers.

Contents:

	Foreword President S. R. Nathan Singapore Preface Tommy Koh Acknowledgements The Contributors Abbreviations Glossary Introduction Lai Ah Eng
I	THE LANDSCAPE OF RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY

1.	Religious Influences and Impulses Impacting Singapore Tham Seong Chee
2.	Religious Trends and Issues in Singapore Tong Chee Kiong
3.	Keeping God in Place: The Management of Religion in Singapore Eugene K. B. Tan
4.	Discourses on Islam in Southeast Asia and Their Impact on the Singapore Muslim Public Azhar Ibrahim
5.	Global Christian Culture and the Antioch of Asia Jean DeBernardi
6.	"Religiously-inspired", "India-derived" Movements in Singapore Vineeta Sinha
7.	Baha’is in Singapore: Patterns of Conversion Foo Check Woo and Lynette Thomas
8.	Diversities and Unities: Towards a Reformist Buddhism in Singapore Kuah-Pearce Khun Eng
9.	The Sathya Sai Baba Movement in Singapore: Its Service Mission and Philosophy of Communal Identity Construction Nagah Devi Ramasamy
10.	The Muslim Religious Elite of Singapore Noor Aisha Abdul Rahman
11.	The Evolution of the Sikh Identity in Singapore Arunajeet Kaur
12.	Religious Processions: Urban Politics and Poetics Lily Kong
II	RELIGION IN SCHOOLS AND AMONG THE YOUNG

13.	From Moral Values to Citizenship Education: The Teaching of Religion in Singapore Schools Charlene Tan
14.	Religious Education as Locus of Curriculum: A Brief Inquiry into Madrasah Education in Singapore Sa’eda Buang
15.	Mission Schools in Singapore: Religious Harmony, Social Identities, and the Negotiation of Evangelical Cultures Robbie B. H. Goh
16.	Religious Switching and Knowledge among Adolescents in Singapore Phyllis Ghim-Lian Chew
III	RELIGION IN THE MEDIA

17.	Religious Reasons in a Secular Public Sphere: Debates in the Media about homosexuality Kenneth Paul Tan
18.	The Internet and Religious Harmony in Singapore Randolph Kluver, Benjamin H. Detenber, Lee Wai Peng, Shahiraa Sahul Hameed, Chen Yanli, and Pauline Hope Cheong
IV	RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS IN SOCIAL SERVICES

19.	Muslim Organizations and Mosques as Social Service Providers Enon Mansor and Nur Amali Ibrahim
20.	Hindu Temples in Charities and Social Services Sinniah Vivakanandan and Nagah Devi Ramasamy
21.	Delivering Welfare Services in Singapore: A Strategic Partnership between Buddhism and the State Kuah-Pearce Khun Eng
22.	Saving the City through Good Works: Christian Involvement in Social Services Mathew Mathews
V	INTERFAITH ISSUES AND INTERACTION

23.	Religious Diversity, Toleration and Interaction Ten Chin Liew
24	Negotiating Christianity with Other Religions: The Views of Christian Clergymen in Singapore Mathew Mathews
25.	The Inter-Religious Organization of Singapore Lai Ah Eng
26.	Interactions among Youth Leaders of Different Faiths: Realities from the Ground and Lessons Learnt Charles Phua Chao Rong, Anita Hui and Yap Ching Wi
27.	Building Bridges between Christians and Muslims: A Personal Journey See Guat Kwee
28.	Conclusion: Some Remarks on Religious Diversity in Singapore Lai Ah Eng

Lai, Ah Eng, ed. 2008. Religious Diversity in Singapore. Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies and the Institute of Policy Studies, National University of Singapore.

(750 pages, ISBN 978-981-230-753-8)

Religious Diversity in Singapore

edited by Lai Ah Eng

I

THE LANDSCAPE OF RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY