A basic religio-linguistic profile of Singapore
Religio-linguistic diversity and its implications
Religion and national identity
Of all the manifestations of human culture, language and religion are two of the most basic, most universal and most important for understanding the world view and motivations of any group of people. It should not therefore be too surprising an idea to suggest that the two sets of phenomena are interconnected, and that the exploration of this interconnected ness is a highly fruitful way of reaching the heart of a people’s culture.
A basic religio-linguistic profile of Singapore <<<
It is well known that Singapore is ethnically and linguistically heterogeneous, and culturally pluralistic to a degree. The religious pluralism of Singapore matches and reflects the linguistic, ethnic and cultural pluralism of the society. Most if not all of the world religions are represented in the State-Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism, Jainism, Judaism, Zorastrainism, Shintoism, Taoism and Confucianism - together with a wide variety of sects, cults, syncretic religious and minor religious movements.
Religio-linguistic diversity and its implications <<<
Religion is often regarded as an impediment to development and societal modernisation. However, Singapore seems to combine an ability to modernise together with a high degree of affiliation by its population to what are the mostly traditional religions. This casts some doubt on the conventional form of argument that when a society becomes modernised, more technological and rationality spreads, religion in a society will decline. It is difficult to be statistically precise, but it would appear that the major world religions in Singapore may actually be gaining ground rather than losing it. This could be explained by the hypothesis that very rapid urbanisation creates alienation for which people seek a religious solution. Why does Christianity tend to be middle to upper class in its membership? There would appear to be no doctrinal basis for this. Christianity had its origins in the poor and lower classes. Part of the answer lies in the socialisation factor, that is to say well-educated parents bring up their children in the same pattern. Christianity is seen as a ‘modern’ religion in Singapore, as one associated with the English language and to some extent Westernisation. This has two implications : these factors prevent some people, especially those from a very traditional background, from developing an interest in Christianity which they regard and alien; on the other hand, the perceived positive relationship between Christianity and modernisation is a major attraction. It also has another minor linguistic attraction in that legitimates the adoption of Western-styled "Christian names" which can be added to one’s Chinese or Indian given names. (and it is often considered "smart" to have such a name.)
Religion and national identity <<<
There is no national identification for any of the major world religions in Singapore is finite. The major religions are divided among themselves in linguistic lines, for instance the Chinese Buddhists speak a variety of dialects, this confuses the possibility of a clear identification between any religion and any single ethnic group. Also, Singapore as a whole is highly pluralistic religiously as in other respects, and so there is no basis for an identification either between religion in general and the State or between any other particular religion and the State. In other words no other single religion can possibly claim on the basis of the ethno-linguistic composition of its membership to have or deserve some sort of religious hegemony within Singapore, even less to be able to claim to be a ‘State religion’.
But why do people in Singapore rate citizenship higher than the demands of their religious system, given that the latter makes more ‘ultimate’ claims than the former ? (as contrasted with people in Malaysia who felt the opposite when they protested when Islam was not proclaimed the State religion in the Malaysian Charter in 1963) This is because firstly, religious tolerance exists to a high degree in Singapore, both between government and religions, and between the religions themselves : no one is forced to choose between the demands of their religion or the State. Secondly, the main language - English, of the State does not conflict with the "languages of religion". If it did, one might find that religion could become a rallying point for conservative cultural forces, but this has never happened. Thirdly, the lack of clear ethno-linguistic majorities prevents the religions from taking themselves onto a political role. Religion is this in a political sense ‘diffused’ in Singapore, and the average citizen in his own mind rigorously separates politics and religion in his own life and mind, perhaps for fear that religion might suffer it had become too socially ‘visible’. So far this has never happened, so the harmony of national identity and religious identity continues to prevail.