<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR>Singapore can be home to a university for religious and spiritual studies
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->I GREW up in the kampung backyard of the old Balestier Road, next to a Taoist temple, in a four-generation family steeped in the traditions of yellow talismans and smoky incense which were burnt and lit during all the important festivals of the Chinese community.
Later, my mother steered further into Buddhism while my father stayed with Taoism. He continues to help out at a modest temple.
My father decided the English-stream schools provided the best education at the time and that led to my 10-year stint in Catholic-run schools, where Bible studies, daily prayers and participation at the cathedral were par for the course. In my later years, I ventured briefly into the study of Islam, Indian Vedic teachings and other more esoteric and less mainstream belief systems. My passion to learn more continues unabated.
Through the years, I know I have evolved far from my junior college days when I engaged in heated debate with evangelist Christian groups - each trying to tear down the firmaments of the other's belief system.
In a more recent encounter with two evangelists, I listened to their words briefly, nodded, stated my position on their beliefs and mine, and left them to ponder various questions I raised. There was simply no need to debate.
All belief systems exist for a purpose, and I can only hope that everyone finds the one that works best for him, without impinging on the same right of others. Problems arise when dominance, superiority and guilt are used to create divisive forces, splitting people into irreconciliable factions.
I sincerely wish for a place where people can come to learn about all the great religions and spiritual teachings - and I do not mean just the words and interpretation of verses in the Quran, the Bible and Buddhist scriptures, but a complete immersion in the rich culture and traditions each has to offer.
Singapore seems the most logical place for such a platform to emerge. The economic case for such an adventure is equally compelling - imagine all our retirees becoming proactive participants in telling their stories and childhood practices to these seekers of knowledge. Let Singapore create a university for religious and spiritual studies. Let us create a non-threatening space for universal learning and build further on the National Pledge, which acknowledges our differences yet aspires to social cohesion and progress for our nation.
Jason Wee
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->I GREW up in the kampung backyard of the old Balestier Road, next to a Taoist temple, in a four-generation family steeped in the traditions of yellow talismans and smoky incense which were burnt and lit during all the important festivals of the Chinese community.
Later, my mother steered further into Buddhism while my father stayed with Taoism. He continues to help out at a modest temple.
My father decided the English-stream schools provided the best education at the time and that led to my 10-year stint in Catholic-run schools, where Bible studies, daily prayers and participation at the cathedral were par for the course. In my later years, I ventured briefly into the study of Islam, Indian Vedic teachings and other more esoteric and less mainstream belief systems. My passion to learn more continues unabated.
Through the years, I know I have evolved far from my junior college days when I engaged in heated debate with evangelist Christian groups - each trying to tear down the firmaments of the other's belief system.
In a more recent encounter with two evangelists, I listened to their words briefly, nodded, stated my position on their beliefs and mine, and left them to ponder various questions I raised. There was simply no need to debate.
All belief systems exist for a purpose, and I can only hope that everyone finds the one that works best for him, without impinging on the same right of others. Problems arise when dominance, superiority and guilt are used to create divisive forces, splitting people into irreconciliable factions.
I sincerely wish for a place where people can come to learn about all the great religions and spiritual teachings - and I do not mean just the words and interpretation of verses in the Quran, the Bible and Buddhist scriptures, but a complete immersion in the rich culture and traditions each has to offer.
Singapore seems the most logical place for such a platform to emerge. The economic case for such an adventure is equally compelling - imagine all our retirees becoming proactive participants in telling their stories and childhood practices to these seekers of knowledge. Let Singapore create a university for religious and spiritual studies. Let us create a non-threatening space for universal learning and build further on the National Pledge, which acknowledges our differences yet aspires to social cohesion and progress for our nation.
Jason Wee
