Condo success: What's faith got to do with it?

last SG · 2007-03-07T11:49:35+00:00

If I remember correctly. It says in two separate lines, "Fully sold" "Thanks be to God"

davidche SG

Personally i like the sign.

Praise and thanks for God has to be expressed with and in the form of action.

It is simply normal to praise God that the building is fully sold.

sgdiehard SG

I pass by the Newton signboard very often. Never find the signboard religiously offensive! why should anybody feel offensive? It didn't say "only God could have done it", or "Praise be to God who achieved what no man have ever succeeded."

I never ask "Which God?" when I saw the sign, but had assumed that the developer was a Christian. If the developer had prayed to God for the sales of the development, now it is "Sold Out", should he say "Thanks"? If he continues to pray for the construction, and the project completed on schedule, within budget, without accident, shouldn't he also say "Thanks be to God"?

Can we express our gratitude to God in public then? I once saw a certain prize presentation to successful musical artists in Taiwan, and this group artist, comprising two man and a girl, was awarded the most welcomed new group, on receiving the prize, the leading lady singer said " firstly, I want to thank my God for this prize". Shouldn't the guests present, as well as the millions of taiwanese in front of the TV, who are predominantly buddists feel offended? No, and nobody said the group mix religion with entertainment. May be there are a lot more tolerant than Singaporeans, or less sensitive?

We see the sign "Halal" in most food courts in Singapore, it is religious, isn't it? are we mixing religion with food business? no, we have learned to accept it.

Religious harmony comes with citizens who are more tolerant rather than more sensitive to religious expressions.

laurence82 SG

So its a yes or no? Besides, the Halal business is superbly not an accurate analogy to use here. Muslims need to eat Halal food just as Jews need to eat kosher food. There has to be businesses providing such services.

Which is different from the issue of condos selling.

sgdiehard SG

Halal issue is a yes in mixing business with religion. If you want to sell to muslims, you need to be Halal. If you want to sell to the Jews, you must declare the food "Kosher". If you don't, you are not in this business!

The developer's big "Thank" came after the condos was sold. He did not start the selling by claiming that the condos is blessed by the pastors of all christians denomination. No Christians values were attached to the condos before it was sold out. Nobody even knew the developer was a Christian before the sales. In what way was this sales of condos mixed with religion? Rolling Eyes

laurence82 SG

Clever argument, but providing needs and associating God with a non religious project are two different thing.

Besides, there was never talk of Christianity. Look at all the previous posts, where some even ask 'Which God?'

Also, God itself does not imply religion or religious belief? Which planet you hail from?

sgdiehard SG

argument? for what? Wink
a housing project is non religious just like a dish of chicken rice, until it is declared that the chicken rice is prepared according to some religious practice and served in utensils deemed religiously clean. If the developer declared he need to thank God for the successful sales, he must believe that God has indeed helped him in the sales, one way or another. But that does not make the condos religious. and if there is nothing religious about it, why the big fuss? if God itself does not imply religion or religious belief, then why the argument that religion does not mix well with business? Confused Rolling Eyes

sgdiehard SG

I am often puzzled with statement like "halal food is to provide needs". I can understand that all the malay and indian food needs to be halal, but chinese food? the malay and indian muslims ever expressed their need for Chinese food? Confused

sorry, a bit out for the thread.

laurence82 SG

In the first place, who propose that religion does not mix well with business?

Whoever said the project is religious?

Seriously, i dont know what you are driving at.

How come you never answer the queston? Nobody said the project has anything to do with Christianity, so why are you bringing it in?

The use of God's name do imply religious belief, but nobody said the project is religious. That bring us to the original issue, which i want to ask you, do you really know what was the original fuss about?

laurence82 SG

Excuse me, what are you driving at? Of course they do need to eat halal food. Can Muslims eat anything else? Or can the Jews of Judaism eat non kosher food?

And for your info, halal refers to food prepared according to Muslim rites and regulations, while Chinese food is a distinctly a genre of food associated with an ethinic group

May I know why are you mixing two diassociated groups together?

Malays, Indians and Chinese refers to ethnic groups while Muslims, Taoists, Buddhist, Christians refer to members of religious groups

Pls get your basic facts right and rephrase your questions if you have to.

sgdiehard SG

I did not start my post responding to any other posts. What question do I need to answer? I said in my earlier post, I didn't ask who's God was the sign referring to, I just assumed that the developer was a Christian, only Christians would do something like that, no? you don't have to agree with me.

the letter from thomas lee zhi zhi asserted that the sign in Newton, "unfortunately did not shows great maturity and good understanding of the importance of religious harmony and the way to live with others in a tolerant manner." "but it will take only days to push it back to Day 1. So, it is everybody's duty to ensure that it will not happen." Here religious harmony is mentioned so the word "Faith" refers to religion, is "sprituality" also refering to religion? that I will not answer. Everything aside, the signboard is just a word of thanks to God, no different from a thank you to all supporters, why should the presence of God causes religious disharmony?

My position on this was stated earlier " Religious harmony comes with citizens who are more tolerant rather than more sensitive to religious expressions. " I will say Mr Thomas Lee is too sensitive rather than tolerant. What's your point?

laurence82 SG

Not answering the questions. nvm.

So the basis for assumption that its Christians..? And would it help anything at all..?

Answer my questions if you want me to answer your questions.

Besides, as to your last questions I had already laid my answers in the thread.

Beyond Religion SG

This is more of a courtesy issue than a religious issue.

If someone helps me, I thank him/ her, not my parents. Likewise, customers helped me in my business, I ought to thank the customers, not some nebulous beings.

davidche SG

A very lousy analogy.

If someone helps you, he/she gets nothing in return.

If someone pays money to you, he/she gets a house in return.

Thus there will definitely a difference in the gratitude of thanks expressed.

Also, i feel(IMO) that you have violated the rules.(underlined)

ObiterDicta SG

Actually, that would depend on the meaning that she attributed to the term 'spirituality'. One has to be precise here in view of the prevalence of sloppy language (and hence sloppy thinking) these days.

A lot of people, like the 2 letter writers, are of the view of religion should be 'privatised', meaning that people of faith should keep their faith to themselves and that there is no room for faith in the 'public arena' of a secular state.

Now again, the correctness of this view depends on the meaning(s) attached to the terms 'religion' and 'faith'. To many people of faith, their faith also include ethical systems that attempt to regulate their behaviour towards others and towards the larger social context. So for such people, living their faith is a matter of personal integrity, of speaking and acting in accord with one's beliefs and values.

Seen from this perspective, one can argue that what is advocated by the likes of the 2 letter writers is basically a denial of the freedom of expression of those who have faith, since they are impliedly saying that the 'public arena' should not include 'religion', which necessarily informs the views and actions of those who have faith.

Those of us who have faith (of whatever sort) ought to be mindful of the subtle erosion of our rights and freedoms.

regards,
obiterdicta

ObiterDicta SG

God may be nebulous to you, but from a purely subjective perspective, how could you possibly know that God would be a nebulous being to the developer?

alvin74 SG

i see nothing wrong in these 2 statements.
If the author really intend to thank & priase God for it, so be it.

Who knows if God is really pleased with the statements made?

laurence82 SG

she meant religions lar, and for her,specifically Christianity

dont think too much

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