Singaporeans of all faiths are broadly tolerant and more accepting of followers of different religions, compared with other countries in the region, according to a recent survey.
Almost nine in 10 Singaporeans said Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, Chinese traditional religions and local beliefs are compatible with the Republic’s culture and values.
The respondents included those who identify with the various faiths, as well as the religiously unaffiliated.
Followers of all faiths in Singapore were also found to be widely pluralistic in their beliefs, with only three in 10 who said their religion is the only true religion – about half the average proportion in the other countries surveyed by the Pew Research Centre.
“Singapore’s religious diversity is remarkable on the global scale, and especially in comparison with its neighbours in South and South-east Asia,” Pew research assistant William Miner said last Friday.
The survey of religious pluralism in South and South-east Asia found that Singaporeans reported high levels of inter-religious tolerance and acceptance across multiple measures.
More than 13,000 adults from Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand were surveyed between June and September 2022.
Among those polled, about 2,000 were Singaporeans.
The Straits Times
