Religion in Singapore - A Melting Pot of Cultures

The most followed religion in Singapore is Buddhism with 33.3% Singaporean population being Buddhists. Singapore is home to 10 religions - Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity are the primary religions of Singapore, while Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Sikhism, Jainism, and others form the minority cluster. The Lion City is the ultimate melting pot, with the locals celebrating all festivals pompously, irrespective of the religion they follow. It does not have a state-regulated religion which the citizens are supposed to follow. Singaporeans are free to decide and follow any religion they like. Unlike other countries, this stands absolutely true. The Singapore Religion is technically a mix of several communities.

Religious Community	Population Percentage
Buddhism	33%
Taoism	10%
Christianity	18%
Catholicism	7%
Protestantism and other non-Catholic	12%
Not religious	19%
Islam	14.9%
Hinduism	4%
Other religions	0.6%

These are 5 of the main religions in Singapore.  

Buddhism

Buddhism is one of the main religions in Singapore with almost 3/5th of the population are Buddhists. The form of Buddhism most prevalent here is the Chinese Mahayana. Singapore is one of those few places which houses monasteries and temples from the 3 different major traditions of Buddhis - Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana. The largest Mahayana Buddhist temple - Kong Meng San Phor Kar See Monastery - is also situated here. It attracts millions of tourists and locals annually and a large contributor to the tourism sector.

Famous Buddhist Monasteries in Singapore: 

• Buddha Tooth Relic Temple
• Wat Ananda Metyrama 
• Lian Shan Shuang Lin Monastery
• Burmese Buddhist Temple

Taoism

Taoism is another major religion in Singapore. Taoism was born out of the preaching of a very famous Chinese philosopher, Lao Tzu. According to him, the true way of leading life is by honoring the ancestors and being compassionate towards the earlier generations. He was also the propagator of the yin and yang theory.

Famous Taoist Temples in Singapore: 

• Thian Hock Keng Temple (the oldest Taoist temples in the world)
• Ang Chee Sia Ong Temple
• Fuk Tak Chi Temple
• Hong San See Temple
• Tan Si Chong Su Temple
• Tou Mu Kung Temple
• Yueh Hai Ching Temple

Islam

The religion is Islam is not a very prominent religion in Singapore. Although you will still find a lot of Muslims here. Roughly 14 percent are followers of this religion.

The Majlis Ugama Islam Singapore or MUIS is the primary body responsible for protecting and improvising on the social, cultural, and religious needs of the Muslims of Singapore. They also take care of the mosques and other monuments around the country. They are also very involved in organizing a yearly pilgrimage to Mecca. One of the most prominent figures of the Islamic world is Mr. Yusof Bin Ishak. He is also widely recognized as the first President of Singapore has a portrait of him imprinted on all the currency notes valid here.

Famous Mosques in Singapore: 

• Masjid Sultan
• Abdul Gafoor Mosque
• Masjid Al-Islah
• Masjid Assyafaah
• Hajjah Fatimah Mosque
• Masjid Maarof
• Masjid Al-Ansar

Hinduism

Eminent deities are worshipped by the Hindus in the world and Singapore alike includes Ganesha, Lakshmi, Parvati, Rama, Durga, Krishna, and Hanuman to name a few. Hindus form more than 5% of the entire population of Singapore.

The oldest Hindu temple also is known by the name of Mariamman Temple is located here. Local Hindus and people from all over the world come to Singapore to visit this temple. It attracts millions of tourists annually and very famous among the Singaporeans. There are a total of 30 Hindu temples in Singapore. All these temples, as well as the social-cultural and religious rights, are protected and managed by the Hindu Advisory Board and Hindu Endowments Board.

Famous Hindu Temples in Singapore: 

• Sri Mariamman Temple
• Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple
• Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple 
• Sri Thendayuthapani Temple 
• Sri Senpaga Vinayagar Temple 
• Sri Sivan Temple
  

Christianity

The oldest Christian Church also known as the Armenian Church is situated in Singapore. It was built in the 1830s and is quite popular amongst Christians all over the world. It is flanked by millions of people from all over the world and Singapore alike.

Christianity has sects such as Protestants and Catholics. Churches catering to both these sects are located here. There are around 30 Catholic churches spread across the country and as many or more Protestant churches as well.

Famous Churches in Singapore: 

• St. Andrew's Cathedral
• St Joseph's Church
• Church of St. Teresa
• Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
• Cathedral of the Good Shepherd
• Church of St. Alphonsus
• Our Lady of Lourdes

Religious Festivals in Singapore

What happens when you have a mixed bag of religions and culture come together? You get Singapore! With 5 very prominent religions in Singapore, the religious traditions and festivals are quadrupled. With festivals happening everywhere, here's a list of the most auspicious religious festivals in Singapore that you keep a keen eye out for when you visit the city. 

1. Hari Raya Haji - July 30th - August 31th 2020
2. Hari Raya Puasa - May 23rd - May 24th 2020
3. Deepavali - November 16th 2020 
4. Christmas - December 25th 2020 
5. Lunar New Year - January 25th - January 26th 2020

The non-religious community of Singapore

The Singapore Religion of being non-religious is becoming popular. The non-religious community of Singapore is just as diverse as the religious community, constituting about 18.5% of the population of Singapore. They form ethnic groups and identify themselves as atheists, agnostics, free thinkers, humanists, sceptics, etc. Some of them are theists as well, practising the rituals but denying the affiliation to any religion. It is interesting to note that the community is expanding massively and the gatherings of the non-religious community are getting mainstream. One such famous Meetup is the Singapore Humanism Meetup consisting of over 400 secular humanists. Groups like Humanist Group are gaining popularity and being gazetted as a society on a national level. Also, these groups link to other non-religious groups in Southeast Asia. 

Tips to Visit Places of Worship in Singapore

• Photography: Photography is restricted in most places of worship in Singapore because it is considered disrespectful. Before taking a snap, it is advisable to check whether it is permitted or not. 
• Dress code: Wearing appropriate clothes to places of worship is important. It is an unspoken rule and must be followed because it shows courtesy. 
• Shoes: In temples, monasteries and mosques, remove footwear before entering.
• Mobile phones: Turn off the mobile phones or put them on silent mode to avoid causing any disturbance to the peaceful atmosphere. 
• Lower voice: One must lower their voices while conversing with people around and avoid unnecessary conversations because it disrupts the peace.

We hope this article helped you increase your understanding of the diverse religions in Singapore. So next time you visit the Lion City, make sure to visit all these religious places a visit!