Adopt inclusive attitude in S'pore

I refer to the report "Different religions, but love found a way" (My Paper, Jan 6).

Apart from just bestowing gifts on babies born this year in celebration of SG50, I think it's stories like this that should define Singapore and make us proud to be Singaporean.

In this day and age, when technology and globalisation force us to move even faster, with hardly time to pause and catch a breath, many are turning to religion to seek solace.

But sadly, some who turn to religion adopt a zero-sum attitude against those who do not share their theology. In the worst of cases, we see in the history of mankind, genocides, pogroms, forced conversions and even the massacre of children.

While we are lucky to have been spared these terrible tragedies here, my wish for Singapore is that religious groups here reflect on what Taoist priest Chung Kwang Tong, who married Catholic Jacqueline Yip, shared with us: "But religion is just a part of a person's life. The most important thing is that we love, respect and accommodate each other."

Theirs is a union based on inclusiveness, not exclusiveness, and that is a value to be celebrated and nurtured.

This attitude of inclusiveness should apply when interacting not only with people of different religions, but also of different races, sexual orientation, abilities and social status.

Of what use is religion if it forms a complete part of one's life, but one never learns to love, respect or accommodate his neighbour?

Wilfred Ong Chiew Leng

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