Being Beings

20/09/2021

Even very subtle actions—like moving together in time—can exert a significant effect on the mind.

We see synchrony in almost every religion the world over: Buddhists and Hindus often chant together in prayer; Christians and Muslims regularly kneel and stand in unison during worship; Jews often sway, or shuckle, when reciting prayers together.

These actions belie a deep purpose: creating connection.

https://www.wired.com/story/psychologists-religion-how-god-works

Social scientists are researching what humans can do to improve their quality of life. Their findings echo what religious practices perfected centuries ago.

12/08/2021

'Regardless of race, language, or religion' — if National Day celebrations don't align us with the values of our Pledge, then what will?

Kudos to Tanjong Pagar GRC for their show of support against racism!

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/tiong-bahru-residents-pen-letter-of-support-to-family-in-national-day-banner-targeted-by

Response shows people value a multiracial, multi-religious, multicultural Singapore, said Indranee Rajah.. Read more at straitstimes.com.

01/08/2021

Coming to pray together during a difficult time is a key aspect of interfaith dialogue and harmony. It is a time when we show our support for one another and solidarity.

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/community/religious-leaders-join-inter-faith-prayer-organised-following-school-incidents

The IRO organised the session to show care for the well-being of the Singapore community.. Read more at straitstimes.com.

27/07/2021

Religious tolerance goes beyond staying out of each other's way. It is about the willingness to engage one another in an integrated society on various things, including love and marriage.

​https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-57647931

A study said members of India's major religious communities often don't feel they have much in common.

19/07/2021

Religious and racial intolerance can lead to violence—we are reminded that this isn't just something from our past history. Striving for multiracial and interfaith harmony is an important task for everyone today.
​https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/parliament-police-reports-racial-religious-incidents-shanmugam-15159466

SINGAPORE: The police received 60 reports on incidents involving racial or religious friction in 2020, almost double the 31 incidents it got the ...

13/07/2021

Interfaith and in*******al harmony gave birth to the nation of Singapore. Having inherited this unique identity from the founding generation, let us find new ways to talk about discrimination openly, and respectfully, in this digital era. How can we do that?

https://www.todayonline.com/big-read/big-read-short-yes-lets-talk-about-racism-how

Each week, TODAY’s long-running Big Read series delves into the trends and issues that matter. This week, we look at racism in Singapore and what needs to be done about it. This is a shortened version of the full feature.

10/07/2021

Recent census reveals to us important demographic shifts in Singapore, and one of them is the increasing number of residents with no religion.

But having no religious affiliation does not mean having no concern about religious issues. Let's strive for interfaith harmony between those of us with religious affiliations and those of us without!

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/no-religion-humanist-society-singapore-census-15115316

SINGAPORE: Teenager Yuxuan ticks the “Buddhist” box on official forms, but does not practise Buddhism. Calling herself Buddhist is a “habit” she ...

07/07/2021

Tackling extremism needs to be holistic in order to be effective. We're happy that tech companies are joining the fray to partner with religious communities and interfaith organisations in engaging with the potential threats to peace.

Part of our team was privileged to have been invited to this timely workshop that also featured our ongoing Being Community project on stories of discrimination.

Spearheaded by MCCY with major tech platforms like Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, and Tik Tok, the programme offered a deeper understanding of the unique challenges behind the online space for the work of diversity, discrimination, and dialogue.

Let's continue working together to discourage extremism and promote peace in our diverse society, whether online or offline!

25/06/2021

School life shapes much of the values we develop in our youth, and so, it is heartening to know that there are resources for promoting multiracial harmony in schools. Life at home, however, is also very influential on our beliefs and attitude. How can we promote anti-racist education at home?

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/those-engaging-in-racist-acts-in-school-will-be-counselled-and-disciplined-moe

Students and staff who experience racism in schools should bring it up to their institutions immediately for investigations.. Read more at straitstimes.com.

17/06/2021

Being Beings is about thriving as many within a diversity of faiths. We are a community newsletter weaving an interfaith tapestry for the Singapore story.

We are people from various religions and spiritual traditions, building community with this platform of shared stories and shared lives.

Like and follow us to see more about interfaith diversity and dialogue!

02/05/2021

This weekend our friends at the Young Sikh Association are hosting community screenings of The Sikh Road - a short film about the vibrant Sikh community in Singapore's multicultural landscape.

Informative and emotionally-tugging, join them for a second day of shows at the Civil Service Club at Tessonsohn Road (next to Singapore Khalsa Association).

There will be shows every hour today, 2nd May, between 1pm to 4pm. Details on their page and poster below!

19/04/2021

Catch the first episode of "Stories We Need to Share" as Farid, a veteran intercultural dialogue facilitator speaks to our first 4 guests who openly shared their experiences relating to racial discrimination in Singapore.

Being Community is a Being Beings initiative (supported by Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth - MCCY) to surface these less than pleasant stories with the hope of having deeper and honest conversations on issues of racial and religious discrimination in Singapore.

18/04/2021

From our new campaign to raise awareness of racial and religious discrimination, Being Community: Stories we need to share.

We're still looking for your stories of discrimination, so if you've experienced these, please share in the comments.🙁

21/03/2021

Launching our latest initiative on the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

Being Community comprises of a series of online videos where participants share intimate stories about their experiences with racial and religious discrimination in Singapore, how it happens, and what we can do about it, both as individuals and as a community.

We aim to encourage viewers to share their own stories as a way to raise awareness of these experiences and join in a wider conversation to build a more versatile diversity.

Like the page : facebook.com/being.comm

21/03/2021

Nowruz, which marks the beginning of spring, is a time of reflection, hope, and renewal. Celebrated by people of the Zoroastrian and Baha'i faiths as well as many ethnic communities, Nowruz transcends religious and cultural boundaries with each community having its own unique way of commemorating the festival.

We too at Being Beings are going through a period of reflection, hope, and new beginnings. Do keep an eye out for our upcoming campaigns and a refreshed new look!

17/03/2021

28/10/2020

Thank you MP Carrie Tan 陈澮敏 for gracing our collaborative event with the Sree Gnianananda Seva Samajam, celebrating the Hindu festival of Navarathri with an all-female interfaith panel on women's empowerment.

For those who missed it, you can catch a replay of the Facebook Live recording in our newsfeed (we'll work on improving the sound quality, apologies!).

23/10/2020

Short notice ► Navarathri interfaith panel on Women's Empowerment

While we await our website upgrade, Beings Beings is co-organising a panel discussion on Women's Empowerment with two Hindu societies, Sri Gnanananda Giri P*etam and Sree Gnianananda Seva Samajam.

The discussion marks the culmination of the 9-night Navarathri festival celebrating the sacred feminine, and will be an all female panel sharing on women's empowerment from Hinduism, Taoism, Christianity, Islam, the Baháʼí faith, as well as the lens of the Spiritual-but-not-Religious.

► Tomorrow, Saturday 24 Oct, 2-5pm
► Attend physically in our auditorium OR over Zoom webinar
► Registration is free, but required

* More details about the speakers, physical location, or webinar info, can be found on our registration page:
https://beingbeings.com/empoweringwomen/

04/09/2020

Our friends over at the IRO Youth Wing are organising an informal Kopi Session (free & online) tomorrow 5th Sep at 4-6pm with the Inter-Religious Organisation's Hindu council member, Swami Samachittananda.

It's usually meant for their youth wing members and circle of friends, but they've got space and are extending a special invitation to our Being Beings FB followers.

So if you're receiving this message, and you consider yourself a youth or young at heart, come find out more about Hinduism than just karma and moksha in this casual Q-&-A setting.

Register at their link below (Choose 'other' when they ask about your affiliation and say you're with Being Beings, so they know you're friendly!😉) https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScyNcygQBcN_4u14wlQ3QjMfhU62tElYFfsv_Q8jMm2nm1aWA/viewform?usp=sf_link

28/08/2020

Being Beings co-editor, Don Basil, joined in for an insightful interfaith exchange hosted by Muslim.sg alongside an Imam and a Franciscan Friar on the challenges of faith during the pandemic.

(Only got 2 minutes to watch? Catch Basil's sharing about social distancing and how it related to the Good Friday/Easter experience at the 6:45 mark on the video.)

21/08/2020

Spot on!

Exactly.

11/08/2020

It’s time we unlearn and relearn. . . What do you think?

08/08/2020

Fish for thoughts. . .

04/08/2020

Muted microphones, weak WiFi, and frozen speakers have become religious experiences of late. Low Wei Ling reflects on how COVID-19 has affected her connection to religion and the divine, and its potential implications for the religious landscape in the near future.

Muted microphones, weak WiFi, and frozen speakers have become religious experiences of late. Low Wei Ling reflects on how COVID-19 has affected her connection to religion and the divine, and its potential implications for the …

31/07/2020

On this joyous occassion, we wish all of our Muslim subscribers a happy Eid al-Adha! May this special day be filled with abundant happiness, blessings and love.

Selamat Hari Raya Haji!

Best wishes,
Being Beings team

27/07/2020

A familiar figure in the interfaith scene in Singapore, Father Bruno Saint Girons has a new Spotify interview and shares about how we can dialogue with other faiths.

Very relevant knowledge for current times as post GE, its obvious that many of us have not figured out how to talk about race and religion openly, constructively, sensitively and responsibly.

Put on your AirPods and listen to Father Bruno :)

Listen to this episode from Catholic Confessions on Spotify. How can one dialogue with other faiths that have different beliefs and teachings? Father Bruno Saint Girons shares his experience and insights gained from his involvement with inter-religious organisations in Singapore.

21/07/2020

The importance of interfaith and in*******al harmony starts from our schooling years, where we meet friends from diverse backgrounds and forge long lasting friendships.

With generations of youth that sometimes value personal rights and keyboard talks, over heart to heart conversations, is there something we can do as interfaith advocates to reinvent interfaith dialogues for them?


https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/education/school-conversations-on-race-and-religion-should-continue-to-evolve-says?xtor=CS3-18&utm_source=STiPhone&utm_medium=share&utm_term=2020-07-16%2017%3A07%3A58

"This generation is different. They actually want to talk about it. But they need facilitation, and they're honest about it," he said.. Read more at straitstimes.com.

16/07/2020

While the closure of places of worship was hard for all devotees, it has been more difficult for some than for others, with one such group being migrant workers. Acmal Zuheyr offers us a glimpse of the spiritual experience of Ramadan by a Muslim migrant worker during this pandemic.

https://beingbeings.com/2020/07/12/spirituality-in-lockdown-a-muslim-bangladeshi-migrants-perspective/

While the closure of places of worship was hard for all devotees, it has been more difficult for some than for others, with one such group being migrant workers. Acmal Zuheyr offers us a glimpse …

29/06/2020

Life in an emergency room during this COVID-19 pandemic is never dull – with an influx of foreign workers and people presenting with psychiatric disorders. Liam P*e, a Catholic doctor, shares how faith sustains and shapes his practice as an emergency room doctor during this pandemic.

Subscribe to our newsletter: https://beingbeings.com/



https://beingbeings.com/2020/06/29/faith-on-the-front-lines-ii-an-interview-with-a-catholic-doctor/?utm_medium=email&_hsmi=90382772&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--1NCCLqQwIR5f62WURrGPXGMk64DrzXkh9GpCGrgN7Sd8qlB9A7GS7dkUNAg46Ij9nli6G6EEIng51lpxKy-F5kSzUMQ&utm_content=90382772&utm_source=hs_email

Life in an emergency room during this COVID-19 pandemic is never dull - with an influx of foreign workers and people presenting with psychiatric disorders. Liam P*e, a Catholic doctor, shares how faith sustains and shapes his practice as an emergency room doctor during this pandemic.

25/06/2020

COVID-19 has brought to the fore the fragility of life and its dualities, such as health and sickness, joy and sorrow, life and death. How do we find inner peace in the midst of these dualities? Different religions give us a clue.

Subscribe to our newsletter: https://beingbeings.com/

COVID-19 has brought to the fore the fragility of life and its dualities, such as health and sickness, joy and sorrow, life and death. How do we find inner peace in the midst of these …