I REFER to last Wednesday's report, 'Religious tension simmers in Indonesia'. With a predominantly Muslim population in Indonesia, the context is different from Singapore which is more multi-religious with parity between Christians and Muslims. But there is always a fear that tensions may arise when members of different religions live in proximity with one another. We cannot afford to allow such tensions to even simmer in our society. We are alerted to consider the root causes of tensions.

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Most if not all religions preach for peace and harmony. Singapore has been peaceful due to restraint and sensitivity of most of its people. It is up to a person to have his or her own belief. A forum like this is not a place for one to say which god will give us "perfect" peace and harmony. We should be tolerant of the belief of others.

This db is not suitable for us to discuss religion too. Will the moderator have this thread remove? it is not a healthy topic to dwell in. It is to be discussed in private.

Why is Rev Yap Kim Hao perennially foisting his pluralistic beliefs upon us? Aren’t we allowed freedom of worship in Singapore? Why is The Straits Times constantly publishing his religious agenda masquerading as an “interfaith” dialogue, which is really his desperate attempt to foist his religion upon us all?

I am a pagan. I believe in Moloch; he hates everybody. I want to go to hell and burn like a chicken in a BBQ pit. So what? Is Rev Yap forcing us to accept his “loving” god?

What a narrow-minded fundamentalist this Rev Yap. The Pharisee of Pharisees.

Isn’t it true that Reverend Yap is insulting/debunking every religion in Singapore when he claims that his religious beliefs are the only “true” ones? Why can’t all religions choose to believe what they believe? Why must these religions acquiesce to what Rev Yap believes in?

Rev Yap is a hidebound pluralistic fundamentalist, and an insistent one at that. Please Rev Yap, stop terrorizing our religions. We do not believe in your crap. Please let us have the rights of a citizen of Singapore – regardless of race, language AND religion.

I found out about the church where Dr Yap serves on it's advisory board.

Now I am left wondering why he continues to serve on a Christian body when he rejects the absolute truth claims the religion makes?

There will be no peace or harmony if humans lack GP and AP values to respect the Trinity in all aspects of their lives.

More importantly tolerance among religions must ride on AP values, without it all will be a farce and the suffering of man will continue endlessly.

World peace is a dream if humans continue to live a way of life contrary to the Divine Principles and the Divine Will of the Creator based on love, and respecting the spirituality in the purpose of work and service.

Rev Dr Yap wrote: "Religions have the continuing role to play in helping us to cope with life, motivating us to realise our hopes and directing us to shape a harmonious society." His article is below.

What is the solution? Is there hope for the future for mankind in sight when we look around at the chaotic mess around the world, and the unending sufferings of humans caused by humans killing each other brutally due to many reasons, pretext, causes and beliefs, isn't it?

Rev Dr Yap did not spell out the solutions. Will he do so?

World peace among religions is only a dream if humans selfishly continue as is with conceit and ego [missing the wood for the trees], isn't it?

We must remember even the blind can dream. How long do we want humans to continue dreaming for world peace and harmony? Is the future of hope in our hands? Think.

Religious tensions cannot be allowed even to simmer in our society [ST Forum, 29th Sept 08]:

I refer to last Wednesday's report, 'Religious tension simmers in Indonesia'. With a predominantly Muslim population in Indonesia, the context is different from Singapore which is more multi-religious with parity between Christians and Muslims. But there is always a fear that tensions may arise when members of different religions live in proximity with one another. We cannot afford to allow such tensions to even simmer in our society. We are alerted to consider the root causes of tensions.
The report indicated: 'Without the State stepping in more forcefully, there is a limit to how much grassroots efforts at religious harmony can achieve. Christians and Muslims must know that the state will be neutral and fair in protecting their rights.'

I applaud our secular Government in its enthusiastic proactive stance in promoting inter-faith dialogue as evidenced in setting up inter-racial confidence circles and harmony circles at the grassroots level, and the Common Engagement Programme in the national level. The media has engaged the public in discussion of the topic in a responsible way. Educational institutions have encouraged study and research on inter-faith relations.

There is widespread concern about inter-faith dialogue and this is reflected in the number of comments made by the reading public on this issue in the ST Discussion Board. Consistently, responses to inter-faith issues top the list and reach around the 500 mark in each case.

However, it has been reported that religious leaders are wary of participating in inter-faith dialogue because they are unwilling to compromise on what is regarded as 'core' or fundamental beliefs in their respective faiths. There is the threat of proselytisation as well. These are certainly causes of conflict, resulting in simmering of tensions between faith communities.

At some stage in the dialogue, we have to re-examine such core beliefs in the light of new study and research and experience of living together. What is traditionally regarded as fundamentals of faith may not be as relevant in our contemporary understanding and in current interpretation of sacred texts.

Perhaps an important core belief of every faith community is that God the Creator loves and continues to be present with all people in every part of Creation. The goal is that people should live in peace with justice and in harmony with nature for our common survival as created beings on planet Earth. We are now opposed to racism, slavery, patriarchy, dictatorship, global warming and exploitation of natural resources.

Another essential core belief is that there will always be differences among people of different races, cultures and religions and we need to respect diversity. Unity is not uniformity but unity in diversity. No one religion has complete monopoly of divine truth.

Meanwhile, we are to work together in addressing common social problems as they affect us in our daily lives. They are the matters of education, food, shelter, health and welfare of our people. Here it is the level of dialogue of ordinary living every day.

Religions have the continuing role to play in helping us to cope with life, motivating us to realise our hopes and directing us to shape a harmonious society.

Rev Dr Yap Kim Hao

Christianity is not just a religion, but a Good News to all mortal mankind, that too explains why it differs from all the other faiths where the believers would rather keep their religion low profile or maintain a 'mind their own business' mindset. If christianity keeps this religion to ourselves and mind our own business, then it is not something worth pursuing, this whole religion thing will just be a ritual or tradition or just like any other religions. If something is true and offers a good news, wouldn't you want to share it with your loved ones and friends so that they can benefit from it too?

One day death is going to conquer us all, we can't escape death, but if there is a hope of an afterlife, a place where you can meet and be together with your loved ones and you can all live in eternal bliss with your creator in heaven, would you not take that chance? I know this may sound like a fantasy to all the non-believers, but if this 'fantasy' does not hold true at the end of your life, so what have you got to lose? You probably would have wasted some time, money or perhaps some rifts and conflicts with your family and friends who are non-believers. But I can assure you that the life that you have lived looking heavenward is one you will enjoy walking with never regret! But what if what the bible said about the afterlife is true, you will have so much so much to lose. Having said that, Christianity is not so desparate as to force people to convert. Our God desires a convicted and yielded heart, as He is looking for real flock who are called be a light to the world and to spread the gospel truths but then again ultimately it is still up to you to choose heaven or hell.

#2 - "Yes. If all religion people understand that Christ is the only God then there will be perfect peace and harmony in the society"

If there was any truth in the above statement then the Northern Ireland conflict bewteen Catholics and Protestion Christians would not have happened in the first place, would it?

Dear Dr Yap Kim Hao,

According to Free Community Church, MSM is NOT a sin between faithful, married men.

Now, is that ABSOLUTELY TRUE? Can we have epistemic certainty that P i.e. “MSM between married men is NOT a sin” is the truth?