Reflecting one's spiritual view not the same as imposing one's religious sensibilities on others

My letter to Straits Times forum. It was published on the online forum, but not in print.

http://www.straitst imes.com/ ST%2BForum/ Online%2BStory/ STIStory_ 382901.html

May 29, 2009
Reflecting one's spiritual view not the same as imposing one's religious sensibilities on others

I REFER to Wednesday's article, 'No 'bright line' between religion and politics'.

I found it most unfortunate that Nominated MP Thio Li-ann is attacking secularism, and painting it as a gag on religious views in public square.

What Professor Thio fails to appreciate is that the issue is not about secularism (or atheism) versus religion. In a multi-racial and multi-religious Singapore, there are no uniform or generic 'religious views'. When a particular religion participates in public space, it does not do so not under a generic label ('religious' ) but under the label of a particular religion (for example, Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism). Unless there is active participation and discussion by the many religious denominations, and a consensus reached by the collective group, no one particular group can claim to represent a 'religious view' of Singapore in general.

Thus, when Prof Thio pushes her religious view (for example, her objections to homosexuality which are shaped by her religious background), the public perception is not that she represents the religious view, but rather that she is imposing her Christian sensibilities on others.

With that context in mind, the reference to the Aware controversy was not, as Prof Thio put it, a view that 'religious groups should not get involved in secular organisation' . Rather, what was disconcerting about the incident was that it was a case of one particular organisation from one particular religion, pushing for one particular agenda, and subverting a publicly secular organisation on the quiet. In a plural society, such an act is dangerous, divisive and destabilising.

Any religious group which wishes to further its views based on its religious conviction must do so publicly, paying special attention to the sensitivities of other races and religions, and must invite other groups to participate in reaching a collective common ground. Failure to do so will surely invite censure and strong reaction from other quarters, religious or otherwise.

The Government is right to urge restraint and keep the political arena secular. This is not a gag on religious views, but rather an appreciation that in a multi-religious society like Singapore, there is no representative and uniform religious view and that any one religion wishing for greater participation in the public and political arena must do so responsibly and with great sensitivity to other religions, as well as the non-religious.

Lai Nam Khim