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Never take sensitivities of different religious beliefs for granted

Date : 29 November 2007

The Straits Times - Never take sensitivities of different religious beliefs for granted

29 November 2007

I READ with interest Miss Lee Soh Hong's comments in 'Power of faith amazing but let patients decide' (ST, Nov27), in response to Dr Tan Chek Wee's letter, 'Community hospitals must not aid conversions' ( ST, Nov 22).

I concur with Miss Lee that caregivers/doctors/voluntary workers should let patients decide what faith is best for them. As she said, one should remember that ' the history of free men is never written by chance but by choice - their choice', especially in multi-religious Singapore where matters pertaining to different religious beliefs can be extremely sensitive.

Dr Tan expressed a valid concern when he wrote that 'there must not be any coercion to convert to another religion, especially when one is in pain and vulnerable'.

As a Singaporean who had experienced the gripping fear of the 1964 racial/religious violence in Singapore, I am very appreciative of the foresight of our Government in implementing various measures to ensure religious/racial harmony - through the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act, The Singapore Pledge, National Education and various Articles in the Singapore Constitution like 16(3) which states: 'No person shall be required to receive instruction in or take part in any ceremony or act of worship of a religion other than his own.'

I am also appreciative that our national newspaper, The Straits Times, treads ever so cautiously in its news reports, articles and letters to the Forum on matters pertaining to religion. The articles, 'A single spark on dry wood can ignite an inferno' by Kai-Alexander Schlevogt (ST, Sept18); and 'Secularism - not from theory but bloody history' by Janadas Devan (ST, Nov 24), serve to remind us of what Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew once said about religion: that it is 'a very profound and fundamental tectonic divide'.

So my dear Singaporeans, regardless of race, language or religion, never take the sensitivities of the different religious beliefs on our little island paradise for granted. Show total respect to your neighbour's belief/s even though, as our Foreign Minister George Yeo said (ST, July27), '....You must of course think your own faith superior to all the others'.

Goh Ah Seng

(With thanks to SPH - StraitsTimes.com)

Note : No reproduction or downloading of this Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) article is allowed in any medium. Permission has to be obtained from SPH.

 

The Straits Times - Power of faith amazing but let patients decide

27 Novomber 2007

AFTER reading the letter, 'Community hospitals must not aid conversions' (ST, Nov 22), I am doubtful that the Ministry of Health holds the trump card.

I am a strong advocate of the following quote by Mahatma Gandhi: 'Religions are different roads converging to the same point. What does it matter that we take different roads as long as we reach the same goal? In reality, there are as many different religions as there are individuals.'

I believe in the power of faith based on religion. Whenever patients are suffering, I like to encourage them to get in touch with their faith. Recently, my mentor told me that his doctor in a public hospital suggested that they pray before his knee surgery, after learning that they shared the same faith - Christianity.

One will be amazed at the power that this gesture has in relieving a patient's suffering and anxiety.

While caregivers/doctors/voluntary workers do show genuine concern, it is best to follow the golden rule: 'Let the patients decide what is best for them.' Let us respect their wishes.

My mentor, a long-time hospice volunteer, related a touching story about a reverend's decision when asked to baptise a dying person by the latter's son.

The reverend gave the following explanation to the son when he did not baptise the dying person:

'To all the questions I asked, he replied 'yes'. He does not know what he is saying. I would rather he died believing in the faith of his forefathers.'

This is a gracious act. In the course of 'mapping God's love', one must practise humility and remember that the history of free men is never written by chance but by choice - their choice.

Lee Soh Hong (Miss)

(With thanks to SPH - StraitsTimes.com)

Note : No reproduction or downloading of this Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) article is allowed in any medium. Permission has to be obtained from SPH.