The Sacred in a Global City: Symposium on Religion in Singapore

This symposium aims to bring together researchers to provide a comprehensive survey of new religious movements, religious innovations, and sacralisation of urban spaces in Singapore.

As the secular state of Singapore enters the 21st century, religions and religiosity seem to be going through a phase of revival in the country. As Singapore continues in its relentless effort to become a ‘global city’, the evolution of the country’s religious scene is now even more deeply entwined with developments in the rest of the world. Meanwhile, the religious practices of new migrants have enriched the city-state’s already fertile grounds of religious diversity, infusing new dynamism and complexity to the country’s religious landscape.

By taking into account factors such as Singapore’s policies on religion, changing demography, processes of globalisation, and migration, speakers at the event will address questions such as: What are the new religious movements that are currently gaining momentum in the context of the Singapore government’s promotion of religious tolerance and harmony? In what ways do religious practices articulate with changing configurations of urban spaces? How have advances in communications technology such as the Internet changed the ways religions are practiced in a ‘globalised’ Singapore? Since expatriates make up almost a quarter of the country’s population, how have the religious practices of these diverse groups of short-term and long-term migrants impacted upon existing religious practices and dynamics? In offering a new perspective to the study of religion in Singapore, the symposium hopes to contribute to a broader inquiry into the experience of the sacred in the context of urbanism and globalisation.

This event is organised by the Asia Research Institute, National University of Singapore & Humanities and Social Sciences Research Centre, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

The following themes will be addressed:
• The sacralisation of urban spaces
• Religion and technology
• Migration and religion
• New religious movements and religious innovations
• ‘Free Thinking’
• Religious commodities and the market
• Theory and methodology

Convenors:
Dr. Francis Lim, Nanyang Technological University ([email protected])
Dr. Julius Bautista, National University of Singapore ([email protected])

Registration:

Admission is Free and it is open to the members of the public.

Contact Person: Ms ROZELLS Alyson Adrianne
Email: [email protected], [email protected]

http://www.ari.nus.edu.sg/events_categorydetails.asp?categoryid=6&eventi...

From 10 Mar 2007
Until 10 Mar 2007
Singapore
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