The Straits Times - Key to harmony is 'give and take': PM
01 November 2010
He cites Methodist Church's inclusive efforts as example
By Zakir Hussain
PRIME Minister Lee Hsien Loong yesterday underlined the need for religious leaders and their communities to adopt a spirit of 'give and take' in maintaining the peace in Singapore.
His message comes at a time of rising religiosity around the world, a trend the Government watches closely as it has implications on Singapore's multi-religious society.
Pointing to this trend, Mr Lee said religion was a positive force in societies.
'It provides spiritual guidance, solace, a sense of purpose to many, not just personal calm and a sense of peace but also social responsibility and obligation, duty to our fellow man.
'But we have to remember that with faith strong on all sides, all the more we need to look to tolerance and give and take, and deal with any issues that may arise from time to time calmly and sensibly,' he said.
His speech to 150 people from various faiths at the Methodist Church's 125th anniversary celebrations also dwelt at length on the Church's contributions to education and social services in Singapore that have benefited people of all religions.
His family was among them, he said, citing his mother and sons.
The late Madam Kwa Geok Choo studied at Methodist Girls' School, which was then at the Mount Sophia site where yesterday's commemoration was held. The place is now an arts centre called Old School.
Two of his sons went to Anglo-Chinese School (Independent): Hongyi, now 23, and Haoyi, 21.
PM Lee also lauded a new project of the Church to help 1,000 needy families of various races and religions out of chronic poverty.
Bishop Robert Solomon, who heads the Methodist Church here, said the Church had raised $1.8 million for this project to mark its anniversary.
Dr Solomon also said the Church had built ecumenical relations with other Christian churches and strengthened ties with other religious groups.
Indeed, yesterday's event was marked by the presence of religious leaders of various faiths.
Taking note of it, PM Lee said: 'That so many religious leaders have come together to commemorate a special day for one faith is a unique feature of Singapore.'
He added: 'We must always remember that this trust and harmony is precious: It's beautiful but it can be fragile, and therefore it needs to be carefully protected and strengthened.'
He also made his oft-repeated call for all groups not to force their beliefs on others: ''Live and let live' is our guiding principle and that's how we have lived in peace and harmony for so many years.'
Singapore's religious leaders had also built social cohesion by guiding their flock wisely, setting a wholesome and moral tone for society, making practical compromises, and working with the Government to resolve many issues.
'The Methodist Church has been a good role model and a valuable partner in our community engagement efforts,' he added.
He praised Dr Solomon for his leadership in forging good ties with other religious leaders, in particular Muslim leaders after the Sept 11, 2001 terror attack.
'So long as our religious leaders and our communities remain committed to improving inter- faith relations, we can remain one united people, living in peace and harmony,' he added.
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TODAY - Methodist Church celebrates 125 years
01 November 2010
by Dylan Loh
SINGAPORE - "Live and let live" - that is the approach that has allowed Singapore to achieve harmony in spite of its diversity.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong made this observation yesterday when he was speaking at The Methodist Church's 125th anniversary celebrations.
Adding that tolerance was important amid growing religiosity here, Mr Lee noted that religious organisations here have "helped to set a wholesome and moral tone to our society. And the religious leaders have guided their flocks wisely".
"They've respected and accommodated one another, made practical compromises so that all could live harmoniously together and worked with the government in order to resolve any issues," said Mr Lee, who added that a "give and take" attitude should be taken when dealing with religious issues which arise occasionally.
The Methodist Church has raised more than $1.7 million to help the needy this year.
Echoing Mr Lee's sentiment, Bishop Robert Solomon, who is president of the National Council of Churches of Singapore, said the Methodist leaders would discuss with leaders of other religious communities and "see where maybe we have common interest and perhaps maybe work on a project basis and bring the different communities together". Dylan Loh
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Berita Harian - Role of Religious Organisations in Building Social Cohesion Lauded
01 November 2010
Translation
Religious organisations here have contributed to the social cohesion of Singapore, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, adding that religious leaders have guided their flocks wisely by calling on them to respect and accommodate one another so that all could live harmoniously together. They have also cooperated with the Government to tackle various issues to maintain a harmonious and progressive society.
He said this at the Methodist Church’s 125th anniversary celebrations at The Old School building at Mount Sophia yesterday.
PM Lee also said that ‘live and let live’ has been our guiding principle and the key to how we have been able to live in peace and harmony all these years. He also said that Singapore is able to achieve harmony despite its diversity as there is trust and understanding (between various communities) in Singapore.
He, nevertheless, warned that we must always remember that this trust and harmony is precious and beautiful, but it can be fragile, and therefore needs to be carefully protected and strengthened.
Also present at the event were Community Development, Youth and Sports minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) president Haji Mohd Alami Musa, Mufti Syed Isa Semait, and Ba’alwie Mosque imam Habib Hassan Al-Attas.
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Lianhe Zaobao - 李总理赞扬卫理公会 包容精神为宗教团体树立典范
01 November 2010
● 游润恬
新加坡基督教卫理公会积极促进对各宗教信仰的包容,受李显龙总理赞扬为本地宗教团体的典范。
他指出这个教会有不少代表参与及支持族群与宗教互信圈(Inter-racial and Religious Confidence Circle,简称IRCC),教会领袖也定期同其他宗教的领袖进行对话,并一同出席社区活动。
新加坡基督教卫理公会(The Methodist Church in Singapore)主教罗伯特·所罗门医生(Robert Soloman)是全国教堂理事会会长,同时也是全国种族与宗教和谐常务委员会(National Steering Committee for Racial and Religious Harmony)的成员。
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Tamil Murasu - Give and take is important when dealing with religious issues: PM Lee
01 November 2010
Translation
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has emphasised that give and take attitude is important when dealing with religious issues which arise occasionally, adding that tolerance is important amid growing religiosity. Mr Lee attended the Methodist Church’s 125th anniversary yesterday.
Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports Vivian Balakrishnan, Methodist Church head Bishop Robert Solomon and various religious leaders also attended the anniversary.
Saying that religious organisations in Singapore have greatly co-operated in safeguarding national unity, he added that religious leaders have also contributed hugely towards this. Prime Minster Lee has called upon the different faiths to strengthen inter-religious bonds as the Methodist Church celebrates its anniversary.
Leaders of various faiths turned up at the Old School (former Methodist Girls’ School) in Mount Sophia to mark the Methodist Heritage Day. Yesterday, the Methodist Church appealed to the public to come forward to help in its programmes for the needy. The Methodist Church has so far raised $1.7 million to help the needy.
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