ABSTRACT
As compared to other countries, Singapore is a special type of secular state. The state is secular, but the society is religious. There is no official state religion, but there are numerous examples of how the state intervenes to regulate religious institutions and contents, and enacts legislation to facilitate the preservation of religious harmony, including careful land allocation for erecting religious places of worship, given Singapore’s land scarcity. Singapore has a very rich multireligious social fabric, which embraces many faiths, including Buddhism, Taoism, Christianity (Catholic and Protestant), Islam, Hinduism, and also those who profess “no religion”. In addition, religion has a strong link to race – most Hindus are Indians; most Muslims are Malays; and most Buddhists and Taoists are Chinese. Christianity has a more multiracial constituency and is growing amongst the better educated. Balancing the mix of religions has been a key aspect of Singapore’s multiculturalism.
