Religion in Singapore

Buddhism and Taoism

Although Singapore is a multi-religious country, Buddhism and Taoism are the prominent faiths here.  Buddhism came to the country with the Chinese who immigrated to the country in hordes when Stamford Raffles established the free trading port.  The strain of Buddhism that these immigrants brought belonged to the Mahayana sect which also gave rise to Zen Buddhist practices.  Taoism is a philosophy more than a rigid religious structure.  Taoism is responsible for many positive exports like feng shui—a practice which aims to allow for the flow of positive chi or energy sources in a house.  Taoism is also responsible for acupuncture--a Chinese medical treatment which is based on the use of needles to release negative chi or promote positive chi in the body.   

Islam

Islam as a religion was already present on the island when Sir Thomas Stamford Bingley Raffles (the unofficial “founder” of Singapore) arrived in 1819.  The Malays had long inhabited Singapore and were overwhelmingly Muslim in number.  Although the Malay population in Singapore has declined, they remain one of the strongest communities in Singapore with mosques still acting as cultural focal points in certain Malay neighborhoods.  Muslims here are not as conservative as in neighboring Malaysia, and the head scarf is purely voluntary.  The presence of a considerable Muslim population (about 16%) is the reason you’ll find so many “halal” restaurants in Singapore on your medical tourism jaunt.   

Hinduism and Christianity

When Raffles’ ship docked at Singapore harbor, many on board were Indian laborers, who were probably the earliest immigrants to the island.  Over the years, more arrived, most of them from India’s southern state of Tamil Nadu but many also from Punjab, Gujarat, and Kerala.  The 165-year old Mariamman temple, a national monument and a major stop on any medical tourism itinerary, is testament to the Hindu faith that these Indian laborers brought with them.  Christianity (mostly from Chinese and Indian descendents) accounts for 15% of the population.