By Roland Chia [1]
(This article was originally published by Centre for the Development of Christian Ministry of Trinity Theological College, Singapore, in periodical Church & Society, vol. 6, no. 1 [2003], p.1-11.)
INTRODUCTION
Early this year, the National Council of Churches of Singapore (NCCS) invited me to write a paper on the theme, ‘The Christian and Inter-Faith Relations’. The purpose of this paper, as I understand it, was to clarify the church’s role in multi-religious and multi-racial Singapore. Broadly speaking, the paper was to serve as a guide that would help pastors and church leaders in Singapore to understand the theological parameters within which the church may reflect on her attitude towards and her relations hip with adherents of different religions. The paper was also to provide the basis for thinking of concrete ways in which the church may work with other faith-communities. The NCCS has since set up a study group comprising of theologians and pastors to deliberate on these matters.
Recent events in the history of the world, and that of our nation have impressed upon us not just the currency of this topic, but also its urgency. The terrorist attack s on America on September 11, 2001, and the wide-ranging implications of America’s war on terror have serious and worrying repercussions in our world. The ripples of those explosive events have reach ed our shores. The arrest of 13 Muslims in Singapore by ISD for suspicion of planning terrorist activities that targeted Americans working in Singapore, and the tudung controversy are two instances. Just when the tension appears to be abating, America announces its intention to take aggressive preemptive measures against Iraq, and is now working strenuously to achieve consensus in the UN for their approach. And late last month, we witnessed a devastating bomb blast at the hitherto peaceful resort-island, Bali.
