Religions in Singapore City

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Religious Diversity

Singapore is blessed with a rich religious diversity, owing to the assimilation of various cultures through the centuries.  Prominent among these religions however are Buddhism and Taoism. This is not surprising when you consider that Chinese form the majority population in this medical tourism destination.  When Sir Stamford Raffles established his trading port, thousands of Chinese immigrants began to pour in looking for business and employment opportunities. These immigrants brought with them traditional Chinese beliefs and a strain of Buddhism known as the Mahayana sect.   

Traditional Chinese beliefs influence everything in Singapore, from medicine and business matters to interior design.  Taoism is the principle behind feng shui which involves the removal of bad or negative energy and the fostering of positive energy in the home to improve one’s luck.  Acupuncture, which involves the insertion of needles into the body to cure various ailments, is also based on the positive energy – negative energy premise.  In places like Chinatown, medical tourism visitors can still see remnants of Taoist healing and design practices.  

Islam

Islam is the dominant religion of the Malays, and therefore, has long been practiced in Singapore.  Muslims form 16% of the total population. Immigrants from the Middle East also help boost the number of Islamic followers in this island nation.  Muslim practices in Singapore are relatively liberal compared to most Islamic countries. 

Hinduism

India’s most commonly practiced religion arrived in Singapore with the hundred odd Indians who were part of Sir Stamford Raffles’ historic arrival at Singapore harbor.  The early Indians were largely from Tamil Nadu, and their presence resulted in the construction of some beautiful temples in Singapore. Many of these are concentrated in the Little India enclave and are a must on any medical tourism itinerary.