Singapore may host world meeting of religious authorities
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Tuesday November 21, 12:17 PM
By this time next year, Singapore could be a platform where leading international religious authorities come together to seek and promote greater understanding of each other's faith.
Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong personally discussed this possibility with the Secretary of State of the Holy See, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone at the Vatican City on Monday.
The suggestion of an inter-faith dialogue was first mooted in June in Singapore during the visit of a special envoy from the Holy See.
This is SM Goh's second official visit to Vatican City.
And it comes at a momentous time in a troubled era, when a clash of ideas between religious extremists and the rest of the world is presenting a very real threat to global stability.
2006 marks 25 years of formal diplomatic relations between Singapore and the Holy See.
In celebration, the Vatican sent special envoy Cardinal Renato Raffaele Martino to visit Singapore in June where he met the Senior Minister.
It was at that meeting that Singapore and the Vatican decided they would work together to promote peace and inter-faith harmony in the world.
SM Goh said: "We initiated the Asia-Middle East dialogue, that's the result of our concern that there could be misunderstanding between the Middle East and other parts of the world. Singapore believes we have a rather good understanding, because we have Muslims and we are living in a Muslim region. But people in other parts may not have such a good understanding.
"And then the worry is that misunderstanding may lead to clashes between Islam and other religions, which is unnecessary. This is actually a follow up of the Asia Middle East dialogue, this is more focused, this is on religion whereas Asia-Middle East dialogue is for economic, social, political and so on."
The plan Mr Goh proposed to the Vatican is to gather four or five eminent international scholars from various other religions, like Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism, for an inter-faith dialogue in Singapore.
SM Goh said: "The objective is not to criticise anyone, not to criticise the radicals and the fundamentalists, It's simply to get a positive understanding of people of different faiths. The cardinal was very supportive, he asked me to flesh out the idea, and then to send him the paper, to work on it. There's no hurry, maybe sometime in 2007 or 2008, we can have this dialogue at a high level. This is the plan which the cardinal supported."
The Silver Jubilee of good ties between Singapore and the Vatican saw the commemorative release in Singapore of a book, and limited edition coins and stamps.
But, if this Singapore initiative of an interfaith meeting takes off as planned, it could prove a truly memorable quest for dialogue launched out of 25 years of good relations between Singapore and the Holy See. - CNA/ch -
You got buy the stamps?
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No leh. I dunno how to collect stamps one, though I reckon is a good hobby.Originally posted by laurence82:You got buy the stamps?
You got buy ah? -
My brother got collect stamps, but no buyOriginally posted by Honeybunz:No leh. I dunno how to collect stamps one, though I reckon is a good hobby.
You got buy ah?
Donch noe have or not
This set should be rare collection
Mabbe i go buy for my uncle -
how much of tax payers' money is gonna spent on hosting this event?
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OMG!
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Some things, you cant put monetary value on it.Originally posted by Ito_^:how much of tax payers' money is gonna spent on hosting this event? -
yeah, u're right.Originally posted by laurence82:Some things, you cant put monetary value on it.
its their intentions im doubting. sg gahman dunnoe why recently like to poke their nose into everything. -
Can start with Singapore post office. Purchase some from there. Then collect those stamps from letters people sent to you. Den when you feel like it, go buy those more ex stamps.Originally posted by Honeybunz:No leh. I dunno how to collect stamps one, though I reckon is a good hobby.
You got buy ah? -
This kind of thing, taxpayers pay one meh?Originally posted by Ito_^:how much of tax payers' money is gonna spent on hosting this event?
The Vatican, Islam and Buddhist bodies got money. They should be paying for the event bah? -
I like to look at stamps from time to time.Originally posted by Bontakun:Can start with Singapore post office. Purchase some from there. Then collect those stamps from letters people sent to you. Den when you feel like it, go buy those more ex stamps.
Just that I dunno how to preserve them. I am quite clumsy and messy. So I tend to mess them up. Good stuff like this, better leave it to good hobbyists. I will do the looksee looksee as and when ppl show me their collection. -
me no think so. even though i can't be sure.Originally posted by Honeybunz:This kind of thing, taxpayers pay one meh?
The Vatican, Islam and Buddhist bodies got money. They should be paying for the event bah?
just security alone would costs a bomb, and gahman might juz stand out say they wld handle everything, cuz they are world class. den invite thousands of student volunteers to face possible terrorism. -
Do you think this is going to be another IMF scale kinda event?Originally posted by Ito_^:me no think so. even though i can't be sure.
just security alone would costs a bomb, and gahman might juz stand out say they wld handle everything, cuz they are world class. den invite thousands of student volunteers to face possible terrorism.
Do we have to welcome them with 4 million smiles again?
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If its something like this i will pukeOriginally posted by Honeybunz:Do you think this is going to be another IMF scale kinda event?
Do we have to welcome them with 4 million smiles again?
4 million smiles ,fake
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im imagining a mini-IMF-scale kinda event actually. not so big, but pretty good target for al qaeda to make a point since its a high level dialogue.Originally posted by Honeybunz:Do you think this is going to be another IMF scale kinda event?
Do we have to welcome them with 4 million smiles again? -
Oh. Normally collectors buy an album and place the stamps neatly in there.Originally posted by Honeybunz:I like to look at stamps from time to time.
Just that I dunno how to preserve them. I am quite clumsy and messy. So I tend to mess them up. Good stuff like this, better leave it to good hobbyists. I will do the looksee looksee as and when ppl show me their collection. -
What how?Originally posted by onceinabluemoon: -
With specific reference to The Holy See, I believe the budgetary conditions have been quite poor, with deficits for quite a few years now.Originally posted by Honeybunz:This kind of thing, taxpayers pay one meh?
The Vatican, Islam and Buddhist bodies got money. They should be paying for the event bah?
regards,
obiterdicta -
Dont entertainOriginally posted by Honeybunz:What how?
The topic in EH also closed down liao
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Izzit? I thought they managed to pull out of deficits after a while.Originally posted by ObiterDicta:With specific reference to The Holy See, I believe the budgetary conditions have been quite poor, with deficits for quite a few years now.
regards,
obiterdicta -
Orh.Originally posted by laurence82:Dont entertain
The topic in EH also closed down liao -
7 albums and increasing ...Originally posted by Bontakun:Oh. Normally collectors buy an album and place the stamps neatly in there.
now no time to sort out the rest 
ok ... back to the topic ... think the Pope will come? -
No, the Pope is not likely to come. Pope Benedict's style and emphasis are very different from JPII and thus he is not likely to have as heavy a travelling schedule as his predecessor.Originally posted by vince69:7 albums and increasing ... now no time to sort out the rest
ok ... back to the topic ... think the Pope will come?
He has a lot of more pressing issues to take care of, e.g.:
- promoting unity with the Orthodox
- restoring the sense of sacredness to liturgical worship
- healing the wounds with the SSPX schismatics
- re-evangelising European civilisation
regards,
obiterdicta