Guard against Religious Enclaves

Tuesday, Sep. 22, 2009 Posted: 3:24:25PM HKT

This statement was the headline right smack in the centre of the ST dated August 3 2009. I wonder what the writer, a senior political correspondent would have in mind in using such a catch phrase. You’ll find 38 pages of comments in the ST Discussion Board: http://comment.straitstimes.com/showthread.php?t=22974

We need to read this article in a right frame of mind as the citation of the Ulghur and the Han Chinese in China to me is more a work related conflict not well handled that became a racial or religious conflict used by extremist for their own agenda. We need to be careful and clear minded when reading and/or watching such reports. Let not emotions rule our mind.

As a child, I grew up during the 60s racial riot, as a young man, witness through the media in real time the day of the Sep 11 2001 attack on the World Trade Center in the USA. Is there a lesson for all of us? I believe there is, other wise SM Goh would not have raised the concern of the potential danger arising from Singaporean becoming more religious and our PM in his National Day address warned that "aggressive preaching" by religious groups and attempts to convert others threaten the tiny city-state's stability.

I’m sure there is nothing wrong with religious people. The key is in understanding the concepts of religious freedom and tolerance. Religious freedom and tolerance means allowing individuals to believe in, practice, and promote the religion of choice without repercussions - are legitimate and worthwhile. We always struggle when we try to tag race with religion and that’s why it is important for us to understand basic definition of what we mean when we say:

1.Religious Freedom

The freedom of individuals to believe in, practice, and promote the religion of choice without (government) interference, harassment, or other repercussions - as long as practices based on, or resulting from, those beliefs do not break the law (e.g. do not encourage or result in fraud, tax evasion, murder, terrorism, acts designed to undermine the government or the constitution, the use of unethical persuasion tactics etc.)

2.Religious Intolerance

a)Refusing to acknowledge and support the right of individuals to have their own beliefs and related legitimate practices.
b)Also, the unwillingness to have one's own beliefs and related practices critically evaluated.

3.Religious Tolerance

Acknowledging and supporting that individuals have the right and freedom to their own beliefs and related legitimate practices, without necessarily validating those beliefs or practices.

Instructing the young to be tolerant of diversity is crucial. Racial and Religious differences are deep differences; they are not superficial and cannot be easily bridged. Any racial or religious group when threatened can react violently. If we do not tolerate diversity in our daily lives in Singapore, our social fabric will be torn apart.

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The Rev Tan Cheng Huat
CP Guest Columnist