Inclusivity, harmony and tolerance are values we hold dear in our multicultural and multireligious society. Through Interfaith Network @ North West, faith institutions in the North West have opened their doors to people from other faiths, hosting site tours and interfaith dialogues to build bridges and foster trust. Let’s revisit these journeys together.
Host
- Covenant Evangelical Free Church hosted the first Interfaith @ North West session online during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Focus
- The session provided an insight into Christianity and the Evangelical Free denomination. Leaders from other religious organisations also joined in for an interfaith dialogue.
Highlights
The online session enabled viewers who tuned in to:
- Understand Christianity’s core beliefs and the significance of baptism.
- Learn about the church’s involvement in community initiatives.
- Find out more about the interesting design elements of the church
Curious about the virtual open house? Watch the video here.
Host
- Masjid Yusof Ishak hosted the second online Interfaith Network @ North West session.
Focus
- The session shone a spotlight on the Islamic faith, including its key religious tenets and values. An interfaith dialogue and Q&A session allowed participants to deepen their understanding about the religion.
Highlights
The virtual session allowed viewers to:
- Learn all about the five pillars of Islam and the six articles of faith.
- Appreciate the mosque’s unique design which blends traditional Islamic motifs with Nusantara influences.
- Discover this interesting fact: Masjid Yusof Ishak was named after Singapore’s first president, Yusof Ishak.
Let’s revisit the tour by watching the video here.
Host
- BW Monastery hosted the first in-person learning journey attended by over 60 guests including students from Republic Polytechnic, Woodgrove Secondary School, Spectra Secondary School, as well as representatives from the North West Youth Assembly.
Focus
- The visit allowed participants to learn more about Buddhism’s values and traditions, as well as the monastery’s community services. An interactive exchange with the monks allowed participants to deepen their understanding of the Buddhism faith.
Highlights
Here are some interesting facts the participants found:
- BW Monastery stands for “Bliss and Wisdom” Monastery.
- In Buddhism, the Triple Gems stand for the Buddha (the teacher), the Dharma (the teachings) and the Sangha (the Buddhist community).
- The Three Great Buddhas in the Grand Shrine Hall represent Compassion, Perfection, and Wisdom.
To learn more, experience the visit through the eyes of John, a student of Republic Monastery.
Read the full article here.
Host
- Holy Tree Sri Balasubramaniar Temple opened its doors to over 200 Secondary 3 students from the School of Science and Technology Singapore.
Focus
- The curated temple tour enabled students to learn about the Hindu faith and engage in dialogue to foster greater respect and understanding. The conversation was enriched by candid sharing and perspectives from leaders of other faiths.
Highlights
- Participants discovered all about the deities, traditions and cultural heritage of the Hindu faith during the tour.
- Over a hearty meal, they shared stories, connected further and discussed their appreciation for diversity.
Check out how participants felt about the visit in this video reel.
Host
- Shang Di Miao Chai Kong Temple, Hong Tho Bilw Temple and New Life Bible-Presbyterian Church were hosts to more than 100 students from Marsiling Secondary School for this interfaith visit.
Focus
- In this eye-opening learning journey to various faith institutions, students learnt more about two different religions: the Taoism and Presbyterian faiths. This allowed them to appreciate the religious diversity in our community.
Highlights
- The students found out more about various religions, for example, in Taoism, worshippers venerate different deities through different rituals and practices.
- The visit was educational, enriching and interesting, and this immersion into different faiths helped participants to foster better respect amongst different communities.
Here are the students’ impression of the visit in this video.
About Interfaith Network @ North West
At Interfaith Network @ North West, we believe that embracing and celebrating diversity enriches our community. Learn more about how this programme inspires interfaith conversations to build peace and harmony in our community.
Join us in cherishing this inclusivity and understanding by participating in our upcoming events. For more information on how you can be part of this initiative, please email northwestcdc_partnerships@pa.gov.sg
Our Team
Adviser: Mayor Alex Yam
Editorial Team: Garick Kea, Sim Chuan San, Steve Luo, Eric Liu, Melvin Tai, Charlene Koh
Please send feedback, suggestions and comments to northwest_cdc@pa.gov.sg
Some articles in Cohesion are contributed by volunteers and
are not necessarily opinions/comments by North West CDC.
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