SINGAPORE: A recent survey conducted by the Pew Research Center in the United States has shed light on the exceptional levels of religious tolerance among Singaporeans. The survey, which involved more than 13,000 participants from six Asian countries and was conducted between June and September 2022, found that Singaporeans are remarkably accepting of various religious beliefs.
The key findings of the survey highlight that more than 85 per cent of Singaporean respondents believe that different religions and folk beliefs, including Islam, Christianity, and Hinduism, are compatible with Singapore’s cultural values. This level of acceptance surpasses that of other countries in the region.
Among the respondents from Singapore, 26 per cent identified as Buddhists, 18 per cent as Muslims, 17 per cent as Christians, 8 per cent as Hindus, and 22 per cent did not practice any religion. The remainder followed traditional Chinese religions or other belief systems. This diversity in religious beliefs within Singapore was a notable aspect of the survey.
The survey also revealed that local participants in Singapore demonstrated a high degree of affirmation regarding the compatibility of different religions with the country’s cultural values. Chinese traditional religion, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and folk beliefs and religion received approval rates of 89 per cent, 89 per cent, 88 per cent, 87 per cent, and 85 per cent, respectively. These percentages were notably higher compared to other countries surveyed.
In contrast, countries such as Cambodia, Thailand, and Sri Lanka, with Buddhist majorities, exhibited lower levels of belief in the compatibility of Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism with their respective cultural values. Meanwhile, in Malaysia, participants held varying opinions regarding the compatibility of other religious beliefs, with rates ranging from 65 per cent to 67 per cent.
Notably, only 13 per cent of Singaporean respondents believed that practising the country’s largest religion, Buddhism, was very important in shaping their national identity, a significantly lower figure compared to other participating nations. In contrast, 81 per cent of respondents in Indonesia and 67 per cent in Malaysia believed that practising Islam was crucial for cultivating a sense of national belonging. Similarly, over 70 per cent of participants in Cambodia, Thailand, and Sri Lanka believed that practising Buddhism was essential for their national identity.
The survey report pointed out that Singaporeans were far less likely than their regional counterparts to emphasize nativist elements in their sense of national belonging. A significant majority of Singaporean respondents, 78 per cent, believed that respecting the country’s institutions and laws was of utmost importance to truly becoming a part of Singapore. Being polite and friendly followed closely behind with 74 per cent, while only 23 per cent and 19 per cent felt that speaking Singaporean English or belonging to the majority Chinese race was very important.
Additionally, the beliefs of Singaporean respondents displayed a remarkable diversity, with approximately 25 per cent stating that they resonated with three or more other religions in addition to their own, the highest proportion among all countries in the survey.
As for the perception of multiculturalism, 56 per cent of Singaporean respondents believed that having a diverse population from different races, religions, and cultures would make the country more livable. Only 4 per cent believed it would make the country less livable, while 37 per cent thought there wouldn’t be much of a difference. This sentiment was shared by 62 per cent of participants in Malaysia and Sri Lanka, whereas only 19 per cent of respondents in Thailand felt the same way, with a significant 68 per cent believing there wouldn’t be much of a difference.