In the first year of my graduate studies, I remembered feeling awed and intrigued at the same time when my lecturer walked into the classroom. He had visual impairment and was being led by a fellow staff to the teacher’s table. Dr Wong Meng Ee started setting up his laptop, plugged in his earpiece and started his lecture. I expected to learn about special needs in the course but this was a whole new experience of learning as I saw first-hand how he overcame barriers. Dr Wong shared with us […]
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Beyond Religion & Race: Reframing the Conversation on Palestine
On 23 December 2023, Reverend Dr Munther Isaac delivered the Christmas eve sermon at the pulpit of the Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church in Bethlehem, West Bank[1];. In his stirring address, he said “If Jesus were born today, he would be born under the rubble in Gaza. […] Born among the occupied and marginalised. He is in solidarity with us in our pain and brokenness.” Representing the Palestinian Christian community, Rev. Munther expressed his unwavering solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, regardless of faith. He criticised how leaders around the world had […]
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Reality of Seniors Living Alone: Context, Challenges and Future Trends
The phenomenon of seniors living alone in Singapore has emerged as a cardinal reflection of societal shifts and demographic changes. Behind this simple narrative lies a multifaceted reality, where Singapore is faced with challenges and profound implications. Such challenges would include accessibility, mobility and health within the ageing community. In a parliamentary session in 2023, it was reported that the number of Singaporean residents aged 65 and above who live alone is exponentially rising from 58,000 in 2018, to 79,000 in 2022[1]. A study done by DUKE-NUS Medical School’s Centre […]
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Seniors are the New Black: Normalising the Shift from Ageism to Active Seniors at the Forefront of Society
The global population of individuals aged 65 and above is rising worldwide and this trend is largely irreversible (World Social Report, 2023). Individuals are generally living longer due to general improvements in health and survival and with dropping fertility rates, the age dependency ratio is also increasing, thus the inevitable result of the demographic transition towards longer lives and smaller families. This trend is projected to continue, and the world will see increasing proportions of seniors as time progresses. Figure 1 illustrates a crossover diagram depicting the projected changing ratio between seniors and […]
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The Importance of Activism Among Youths in Singapore
7 October 2023: a new date that has become significant in our human history. It is also the day that marked the start of many social media posts and reposts with hashtags such as #freepalestine and #fromrivertothesea widely used not only by content creators but also by our family and friends. Following the announcement of the prohibition of public gatherings on the Israel-Palestine issue amid public safety concerns, local activists in Singapore began leveraging online platforms to express support for the Palestinian cause[1], with most of them being Gen Zs. […]
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Generational Shifts in Unpaid Care Work
Social reproduction goes beyond the traditional conception of labour as being solely limited to the creation of goods. It involves the process by which capitalist societies maintain and reproduce the conditions that are necessary for the capitalist system to continue functioning. Originally proposed by Karl Marx, this idea contests the limited perspective that only acknowledges market-productive labour (paid work) as real “work” and broadens the definition of labour to include the familial, communal, and societal efforts that allow people to join the force.[1] Theorists argue that the different processes required […]
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From Passion to Action: The Transformative Power of Youth Volunteerism in Singapore
INTRODUCTION In 2020, psychologists Adam Waytz and Wilhelm Hofmann embarked on a study with a fundamental question at its core: Does focusing on oneself or others contribute more to happiness? During the study, 263 American participants received instructions on their smartphone daily for 10 days, to perform one of three activities: Moral Deeds: One group was assigned to engage in moral deeds such as giving to charity or helping someone else; Moral Thoughts: One group had to think “moral thoughts” such as thinking about someone else or hoping for someone […]
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Bridging the Cultural Divide and Promoting Intra-Faith Unity Between Muslim Ethnicities
Islam has witnessed an ever-growing plurality in ethnicity and culture since its beginnings. History has taught us that wherever there are differences present, a dark doorway to divide is conjured. In Singapore, we have allowed the cultural differences present between Muslim ethnicities to play a primary role in the prevalence of intrafaith division between Muslims, and hostility towards one another is slowly being etched deep within the veins of our Muslim community. The primary question that requires addressing is: “How do we close this doorway and walk in the pathway […]
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Prophet Muhammad and Emotional Intelligence: Lessons for Interfaith Relations
Goodwill and cooperation between different faith communities are hallmarks of successful plural societies. Towards this end, strong leadership plays a crucial role in directing and guiding communities towards building bridges of mutual trust and respect for others. In a world of rapid change and unpredictability, interpersonal skills as embodied by emotional intelligence are a cornerstone of robust interfaith relations. This article highlights the importance of emotional intelligence in interfaith relations. It discusses the value of emotional intelligence as exemplified by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) through his interactions with […]
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Social Context and One’s Religious Experience
Today, around two billion people identify as Muslims across the world. They live in various parts of the world, from North America to Southeast Asia, in addition to regions we may not associate with a Muslim presence, such as Eastern Europe, South America, and North Asia. The cultural expressions of Muslims in the world are as varied as their geographical distribution. One element of cultural expression is language. A Malay Muslim in Singapore and a Muslim in Pakistan may share the same faith but may not necessarily understand one another (unless the two of them are accomplished polyglots in Urdu and Malay).
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