1a) What are the 4 rules for religious harmony?
b) In your opinion, how can we maintain a common space in schools?
2) Do you respect other religions? Why or why not? What do you think of children who stay away from their parents' funerals because they believe the traditional rites are against their new religion?
ANSWER
1a)1. All groups have to exercise tolerance and restraint: Christians cannot expect this to be a Christian society, Muslims cannot expect this to be a Muslim society, ditto with the Buddhists, the Hindus and the other groups as many faiths share this country, share this island. Each has different teachings, different practices. If we have to live together in peace, then all have to adopt 'live and let live' as our principle.
2. Keep religion separate from politics: Religion in Singapore cannot be the same as religion in America or religion in an Islamic country. If one group were to invoke religion in this manner in Singapore, others are bound to push back and invoke their faith.
3. Government must remain secular: The Government's authority comes from the people, and it has to be neutral and fair to all. The laws are passed by Parliament, elected by the people. They don't come from a sacred book but this did not mean the Government was against religion we just uphold sound moral values.
4 Maintain the common space that all Singaporeans share: The common space - when sharing meals, or at schools and workplaces - has to be neutral and secular and that's the only way all of us can feel at home in Singapore and at ease. If we must serve everybody food which is halal, no beef and vegetarian, I think we will have a problem of not having meals together.
1b)
2)Yes, of course i do respect other religions as we are all staying in the same country, the same earth so we must respect other religions and if we want to stay united we must respect each other and treat others well and their religion equally.
I think those children who away from their parents' funerals because they believe the traditional rites are against their new religion are very heartless. Their parents bring them up until they are married but instead of being respect and thankful, they are getting heartless, ungrateful and disrespect. I dislike those children who are not filial their parents and they thought that it is their parents' duty to bring them up cause it was their choice to bring them into this world. However, they did not know that during the pregnency of 9months for all mothers, it was the most difficult and dangerous time and yet just because they believe the traditional rites are against their new religion they did not want to go for their funeral after their death. For me i think that no matter what, parents are the most imporant in our lives!
