In his article discussing identification and cohesion points in Singapore, Mr Mohammad Alami Musa, head of the Research in Inter-religious Relations in Plural Societies Programme on the S. Rajaratnam Faculty of Worldwide Research, touched on the non-religious constituency (Will Singapore 2030 be much less or extra cohesive?, Jan 21).
The author says: “Because the non-religious develop in numbers… and develop into extra assertive, this may occasionally result in better stress as competitors for social house intensifies between them and people who embrace religions.”
That is conjecture at greatest, as there isn’t a observable proof that the non-religious have gotten extra assertive.
In actual fact, the relative reticence of the non-religious on most social points is trigger for concern contemplating their presence – 17 per cent, in response to the commentary – among the many populace.
The Staff’ Celebration received 11 per cent of the seats in Parliament and its secretary-general Pritam Singh was given the official title of Chief of the Opposition.
The 17 per cent non-religious phase in our society hardly receives any recognition by comparability.
Mr Alami identified the menace that exists when “Singapore’s social material is uncovered to the stresses of competing pulls when religions, ethnicities and cultures encounter each other and after they encounter politics and state”.
He described the non-religious as “individuals who don’t embrace faith however maintain the view that they’re nonetheless non secular and possess the ethical sensibilities and knowledge to contribute to discussions on public morality and public purpose”.
He went on to say that “folks of faith are inclined to dismiss them as being much less certified so as to add to present knowledge, given their lack of a supreme textual content for steering”.
The author proposed three concepts for the longer term: to construct a “dialogical society”, to reinforce Singapore’s secularism, and to counterpoint Singapore’s widespread values and attitudes. All these level to the necessity for more room for the non-religious in Singapore.
Yeoh Teng Kwong (Dr)
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