Religion in Singapore

Singapore is a multi-religious country due to its diverse ethnic mix of peoples originating from various countries. Most of the key religious denominations are represented in Singapore and religious tolerance is promoted by the government.

The largest religion is Buddhism, with 42.5% of the resident population declaring themselves as adherents at the last census. The majority of Malays are adherents of Islam with a substantial community of Indian Muslims.

Religious tolerance is essential in Singapore. From colonial times up to the independence of the island state, racial and religious harmony have been the top priority of the governing institutions.

The government has to some extent successfully transcended religions and racial boundaries. Some religions, especially those spearheaded by Chinese ethnic groups, have even merged their places of worship with other religions such as Hinduism and Islam. A prominent example is that of Loyang Tua Pek Kong Temple (situated in the eastern coastal line) wherein three religions, namely Taoism, Hinduism, and Islam are housed under the same roof in a manifestation of religious harmony in this modern country. Younger Singaporeans tend to combine a little of the traditional wisdom of the older generations with the Religious co-mingling has been strongly encouraged since the British colonised Singapore; for example, South Bridge Street, which was a major road through the old Chinatown, is home to the Sri Mariamman Temple (a south Indian Hindu temple that was declared a national historical site in the 1980s), as well as the Masjid Jamae Mosque that served Chulia Muslims from India's Coromandel Coast. In schools, children are taught in social studies lessons about the Maria Hertogh riots and the 1964 Race Riots, as a grim reminder of the consequences of inter-religious conflict. Mixed-race classes, interaction between students of different races and the celebration of religious festivals also help inculcate religious tolerance and understanding from a young age.