Several STOMPers came across an audio-video
posted online, apparently showing Pastor Mark Ng from New Creation
Church poking fun at Chinese beliefs..
The STOMPers are concerned about how the pastor's insulting
comments may create societal disharmony.
Earlier this year, Pastor Rony Tan made headlines when videos of
him belittling Buddhist precepts such as rebirth, karma and nirvana
were circulated on the Internet, creating an outroar.
This led to the authorities warning him, after which he
apologised.
Now, despite the authorities having taken action against Pastor
Rony Tan, Pastor Mark Ng has apparently made insensitive comments
on traditional Chinese beliefs, as seen in this video. Annotations
are inserted by the anonymous person who uploaded the audio-video
up on YouTube.
One of the STOMPers who came across the latest video of Pastor Mark
Ng, said:
"I came across this video online about a pastor from a mega church
poking fun of other religions' rituals and traditions.
"I have no problem with people preaching their religious beliefs
but, living in multi-cultural Singapore, we should learn to respect
others' religions.
"I think the pastor owes a public apology to all those he had
insulted.
Another STOMPer said:
"Pastor Mark Ng of New Creation Church insults Chinese beliefs and
Taoists in sermon.
"I was aghast to hear that this pastor has made numerous comments
that were not sensitive to Chinese beliefs and were particularly
insulting to Taoists.
"It is very sad to note that despite the public outrage surrounding
pastor Rony Tan earlier this year for his insensitive comments and
misconceptions about other religions, this pastor has chosen to
ignore the government's call for a multi-religious society in
harmony and continued to insult other faiths in order to spread his
own faith."
==========
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLXiG9kQrwo&feature=player_embedded
(This YouTube video clip was
removed. If the beng pastor ng was speaking fine about
others they would not be bothered to remove it.).
Did anyone of you save this?
====================
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http://www.straitstimes.com/PrimeNews/Story/STIStory_540305.html
THE Internal Security Department (ISD) has looked into an
incident involving the New Creation Church over a 2008 sermon being
circulated online that mocks Taoist beliefs.
The 10-minute audio clip was posted on YouTube last Friday. In
it, a church pastor, Mr Mark Ng, can be heard joking with the
congregation about Chinese rituals; in one instance, he compared
praying to Taoist deities to 'seeking protection from secret
society gangsters'.
The Ministry of Home Affairs said yesterday in a response to
queries from The Straits Times that the church had, on its own
accord, contacted YouTube to remove the clip. It has also
apologised.
'We are aware of the case. ISD has looked into it and taken up
the matter with the New Creation Church.'
In a six-paragraph letter posted on its website on Sunday, New
Creation said that Mr Ng, who heads the church's Chinese ministry,
did not intend for his comments to be disrespectful to other
faiths.
It added that earlier this year, the church had reviewed its
archive of sermons and had stopped reproducing that particular
sermon and other insensitive content that had been previously sold
in the church bookstore.
'We recognise our responsibility in this major oversight in
allowing this sermon not only to be preached, but also, as a usual
practice, to be made available as a resource for sale,' the
20,000-strong independent church said.
'It is unfortunate that while we have endeavoured in every way
to stop the circulation of this sermon, its recent appearance on
the Internet continues to possibly cause offence.
'We would like to express our deepest apologies to any person
who may have been offended by the remarks made by Pastor Mark
Ng.'
The user who uploaded the New Creation clip declined to identify
himself, but told The Straits Times in an e-mail interview that he
hoped to raise public awareness on preaching styles that were
disrespectful to other faiths.
'If such preaching continues unabated, it would definitely be
trouble for multiracial and multi-religious Singapore,' said the
37-year-old Singaporean man, who uses the nickname 'happyman4072'
on YouTube.
The clip has since been re-posted on more than a dozen websites,
including Stomp!, tech forum hardwarezone.com and social networking
site Facebook.
On YouTube, it has been viewed about 4,000 times.
In February, the founder and senior pastor of another
independent church, Lighthouse Evangelism, was censured for making
comments that were insensitive to Buddhist and Taoist
believers.
Mr Rony Tan, 64, mocked the religious precepts, such as
reincarnation and nirvana. His remarks were recorded on video and
uploaded on the church's website.
In days, the video clips were re-posted on YouTube and online
forums.
Mr Tan was interviewed by the ISD and has since recanted and
apologised for his remarks.
Mr Ng, who is 48 and married, could not be reached for
comment.
The church, however, said on his behalf: 'Pastor Mark offers his
unreserved and unmitigated apology to the public for his
insensitive comments... He humbly appeals to those whom he has
offended to forgive him for this serious indiscretion.'
The user who uploaded the clip said he had received CDs
containing the sermon last month from a church-goer, presumably
from New Creation.
'I am pretty sure that he didn't realise that these kind of
recordings could give offence to others. Perhaps that could be the
problem in our society right now?'
He added that he was not religious and did not subscribe to any
faith.
Taoist Federation chairman Tan Thiam Lye yesterday called on
religious leaders to start paying more attention to what they say
during services.
He said: 'Such comments do not promote religious harmony - that
is obvious. There is just no need to criticise other religions when
promoting your own faith.'
