Trends and Challenges: Religious Pluralism in Indonesia and Singapore

Abstract

It has become a major concern for many countries, to develop strategies to maintain peace in society. One of the problems being tackled is religious diversity. However, approaching the issue is difficult, since religion has become a sensitive topic. Singapore and Indonesia are known for being ethnically, religiously, and culturally diverse countries, but they are still continually developing strategies for approaching the issue, because religious conflicts happen to be on the rise. The study determined the challenges Indonesia and Singapore face in regards to religious diversity. The researchers surveyed 40 respondents - 20 were Indonesian residents, while 20 were from Singapore. The researchers used the non-probability method, with convenience sampling as the selection technique. The questions related to the condition of religious freedoms in Indonesia and Singapore. Based on the results, and from the researchers’ archival research, they concluded that despite being model countries, it is still inevitable for discrimination and conflicts to happen. The researchers also determined that in preserving the religious harmony in any society, the government, organizations, and the community are key players in achieving such a goal.