WHAT ROLE DO YOU THINK THAT RELIGION HAS TO PLAY IN THE PUBLIC SPHERE IN SINGAPORE?

Religion can play a mojor role in many ways in Singapore's public sphere. Religion is a set of beliefs and practices, often centered upon specific supernatural and moral claims about reality.

Although religion involves many issues that encompass the supernatural such as the presence of a god which are all scientifically yet to be proven, we cannot plainly say that religion would have no role to play in a modern and highly practical country such as Singapore. Religion as I see is something that encompasses a ‘set of guidelines’ as to which how a man should act and something that teaches a person to have good morals. The supernatural aspect of religion I feel is not the core of a religion. For instance, when a person is required to pray a certain number of times a day to god who is supernatural, the motive of this I feel is not the paying of respects to god but to inculcate discipline in man. It takes discipline to plan your time and ensure that you pray a certain number of times a day when you are tempted to do so many other things. Thus it is in this aspect religion can help Singaporeans become morally sound people who are able to differentiate the right from the wrong.

Moreover, religions often encompass many views and ideas as to how a country or person should function. These ideas can at times apply to Singapore’s context today and help the country come up with new policies for the good of the people. This is clearly supported by philosopher John Rawls who feels that any idea, including those coming from religion should never be brushed aside as long as the arguments and points are just and will have a good impact on people. Thus, religion can be used as a source to generate or influence new policies for the good of people.

Thus we can see can that religion can play quite a significant role in Singapore.