ON HER BIRTHDAY THIS YEAR, our nation celebrates the joy of being “A Cohesive Society”, stressing the idea that “Every Singaporean Counts”. The theme for our National Day Parade highlights the importance of racial harmony and the need for people from all walks of life to grow closer together.¹

Recently, a Declaration on Religious Harmony was unveiled to Singaporeans, which is intended to further improve religious confidence in Singapore. Following the proposal made by the Inter-Religious Harmony Circle (made up of the national bodies of all the religious groups in Singapore), we reflected on the Declaration during the week of Racial Harmony Day (July 21)². Our Archbishop, Nicholas Chia, has also written a pastoral letter on Religious Harmony to mark Racial Harmony Day this year.³

Harmony through the eyes of faith

In line with his letter, I offer a short reflection on three points from the Declaration for our National Day celebration, in light of the teachings of
Vatican II.

To begin with, we cannot fully appreciate our need for religious harmony without understanding our essentially religious nature as human beings. As the Fathers of the Second Vatican Council recognise:

Men expect from the various religions answers to the unsolved riddles of the human condition, which today, even as in former times, deeply stir the hearts of men: What is man? What is the meaning, the aim of our life? What is moral good, what sin? Whence suffering and what purpose does it serve? Which is the road to true happiness? What are death, judgment and retribution after death? What, finally, is that ultimate inexpressible mystery which encompasses our existence: whence do we come, and where are we going?⁴

Given the inescapable nature of some fundamental questions of life, it is essential that we live in a society that provides the climate of religious freedom for us to look for our answers. As our Declaration on Religious Harmony goes:

We, the people in Singapore,
declare that religious harmony is vital for peace, progress and prosperity in our multi-racial and multi-religious Nation.

We resolve to strengthen religious harmony through mutual tolerance, confidence, respect, and understanding.

We shall always
-Recognise the secular nature of our State,
-Promote cohesion within our society,
-Respect each other's freedom of religion,
-Grow our common space while respecting
our diversity,
-Foster inter-religious communications,

and thereby ensure that religion will not be abused to create conflict and disharmony in Singapore.⁵

One hope that is expressed in the Declaration is that the people of Singapore shall always: (1) promote cohesion within our society through (2) growing our common space while respecting our diversity by (3) fostering inter-religious communications.

But what exactly is this “common space” that we are supposed to grow through communication in our effort to promote cohesion?