Vivienne Wee

Reading Vivienne Wee right now. The title is Secular state, multi-religious society: The patterning of religion in Singapore.

This article refers to the Singapore constitution Article 15(1) where it states that every person has the right to profess and practise his religion and to propagate it and the fact that the law shall not descriminate against any religion.

In other words, the law, as administered by the state, is above religion and thus enable the state to take on a secular role.

As the law is held above religion, the relationship between the state and the society would thus be a superordinate -subordinate relationship. It is the "government who actively maintains such a relationship through explicit articulation and deliberate policies".

The article compares Singapore with Malaysia where a dominant ethnic group and religion is dominant unlike Singapore where the state maintains its secularization. This is because of the dominant religion in Malaysia. It also compares Singapore with Indonesia where the Indonesian state is more secularized than in Malaysia. However, the state in Indonesia leans heavily to being ethnic biased such that the Javanese is the most dominant group.

Carthesian Scientific Rationalism
A method which guides the Singapore states in its policy making. It can be summarise as the scientific rationality which leans towards the materialistic world or a non-religious mode of rationality.

Government stand on religion.
Religion is an impediment to progress.
The government stand on religion is that 'religion is an impediment to progress' and that the correct interpretation of religion 'must be one that fits in with the prevailing secular values. The government encourages religious authorities to reform outmoded practises and beliefs.

Religion as "political subversion"
A double edge sword like situation develops. For example, if one is "outworldly" then one is considered outmoded and needed to be reformed. However, if one were to take a more "inworldly" view, one may be potentially viewed to be able to provide a political alternatives which the government view as being subversives.

I find this interesting
The government of Singapore has defined the proper "bounds" of religious activities as "educational, social and charitable work". The government regards religions as a spiritual anchor against communism.

Religious knowledge was introduced but was later taken out.
The government felt that religions were useful as a moral and civic anchor but was later taken out. This is because the introduction of the rk in schools blur the lines between the role of the secular state.

Land space.
Due to limited land space, the state, even though it provides the space for the various religios groups to practise, does not provide a 1 for 1 exchange for all the places of worship it demolished. As such many followers had to resort to using their own homes in practising their religions. However, the increasing secular society complained about these informal place of worship and the HDB has tighten the rules somewhat.

O.K I got pause now. Its raining and I want to take a break,