Safehaven Article

Of Shaved Heads and Turbans, Habits and Tudungs

Inter-religious Organisation Walk for Peace and Harmony 2003

The drive along the expressway at dawn was lovely. The buildings in the business district were silhouetted against the soft morning sky as we drove up the Benjamin Sheares Bridge towards the East Coast Park.

Jerry and I had stayed over the night before at Marcus' so that we could catch a ride to the Inter-religious Walk for Peace and Harmony. Yes we had to make it there by 6:45am. Excitement slowly took over the effects of the lack of sleep—we had chatted atop Mount Faber till 1 am the previous night.

Jerry was rattling on about how the nuns might surprise us with their own brand of sister act to the tune of 'I will follow you' at the walk. 'Could it be a run instead?' I asked unthinkingly. 'How do you expect the buddhist monks to run in their robes?' Marcus retorted. We were trying hard to imagine what the walk would be like with so many religious groups participating in it.

Some one thousand people wearing distinct tee-shirts were gathered in groups. A large group from Jamiyah, a muslim community service organisation, were in bright orange polo shirts. The Paulines, a group of catholic sisters wore T-shirts that said 'where the WORD meets the world'. The nuns in their habits could be seen standing amongst Muslim women in tudungs and Sikhs in turbans.

Thanks to Cyrus, the fourteen of us from Safehaven had limited edition tee-shirts specially designed for this event. Michael Lenz, a German journalist, was also with us, and so were a few friends of Simon and Eugene's two energetic dogs. From a distance, Jean spotted Rev. Yap Kim Hao in the crowd. We gave him a Safehaven tee-shirt, which he immediately changed into. We were delighted with his readiness to identify with us.

After the arrival of the guest of honor Mr. Chan Soo Sen, Minister of Community Development and Sports, the leaders of eight different faiths came onto the stage for a time of communal prayer.

Sister Theresa Seow, president of the IRO, then proceeded to give the opening address. She said that this was the first time in Singapore the phrase 'inter-religious' could be used in a public event in place of the usual term 'inter-racial'. This was a result of the acceptance by the government in June this year of a 'Declaration on Religious Harmony' drafted by the inter-religious harmony committee.

With a loud blast, we were flagged off and there began our 3 km walk along the jogging path. The sun was beginning to make its presence felt by then, but the atmosphere was one of cheer. Rev. Yap walked with us, and much of the distance was covered with enjoyable conversation. Oh yes, the well known Venerable Shi Ming Yi who abseiled down Suntec Tower for charity earlier this year, was spotted amongst the monks in grey robes.

At the end point, breakfast was served to all the participants. The vegetarian burgers given out by the Singapore Buddhist Federation were absolutely delicious. While the lucky draw and some performance was still going on, we headed back to our cars so that we could make it in time for the Safehaven Sunday service.

As Marcus drove up the bridge heading back into the city, I reflected upon the myraid colours that made up the attire of the participants at the walk.

The distinctiveness of the different religious groups lies deeper than the colours of their robes. Each group has its own set of beliefs and practices. Coming together in this manner is not in any way an expression of compromise of their religious beliefs. On the contrary, it is confidence in their own religious convictions, coupled with a humble attitude towards knowledge and understanding that shape this common space of diverse colours they are all committed to develop. The Buddhist monks have not exchanged their grey robes for the white turbans of the Sikhs. Neither have the nuns exchanged their habits for tudungs.

Amidst the intense debate on the issue of homosexuality within the Christian church, there is much we can learn from this IRO initiative. While there maybe undeniable differences in Biblical perspectives on this issue, just as the sacredness of hair for the Sikhs contrasts sharply with the shaven heads of the Buddhist monks, we may yet discover many common threads in our understanding and practice as gay Christians as in the case of the habit and tudung worn by our Catholic and Muslim sisters.