MSM (Berita Harian) reported that Singaporean Malays are migrating in record numbers. Surely this must be telling that something is very desperately wrong with their survival habitat which supposedly gave them protected privileges in our society. It is an indictment of a very sick society brought into this dismal state of affairs by failed and failing public policies of the Government.

What is resilient for the rest when the strongest (and at least able to migrate) in their community is leaving in droves?

I was formerly an atheist too, i rationalise myself that there is nothing left after we die. but after much exploration, i changed my thinking. i like the buddhist concept of reincarnation and that there are true stories of ppl, esp monks who have great wisdom and saw “the truth”, they have broken away from the karmic cycle, which unfortunately we are still trapped in.

Presently, i haven’t joined any religion group as i believe one need not join a religion group to practice what the great religious leaders like Jesus, Prophet mohammed, buddha, etc. preached. In fact, buddha warned ppl to be careful of “wolf in sheep’s disguise” ie. unscrupulous ppl hijacking religious groups, something like anti-christ followers.

The true tenets are common to all religions, though they have slight differences in their practices, it is the common things like compassion, fraternity etc that we should pay attention to.

Pascal’s Wager (or Pascal’s Gambit) is a suggestion posed by the French philosopher Blaise Pascal that even though the existence of God cannot be determined through reason, a person should wager as though God exists, because so living has everything to gain, and nothing to lose

Since the govt is so pro-FT, I hope we get enuff outspoken angmohs into our system to change the way PAP treats our fellow citizens

I understand that no matter how poor they are they won’t commit suicide (religion plays a part).

Many would instead turn to the Town Council, CDC, MENDAKI, government & NGOs for assistance.

The rest can also learn from their resilent.

Singaporeans must remain discering and learn to check out facts first. That’s why we are a developed country. We mustn’t always fall hook, line and sinker into whatever is written.

Check this out:
http://nitawriter.wordpress.com/2007/05/11/suicide-rates-of-the-world/

It is interesting to read your logical take on religion and the meaning of life. Allow me to contribute my views on this off-topic discussion (logic-based, of course).

The gist of your argument is that it is better to believe than not to believe. But you have neglected to factor in the COSTS of believing.

And by costs, I’m not just referring to the time, money and effort devoted into a religion.

I’m talking about the OPPORTUNITY COSTS. By believing in say, Christianity, one is no longer able to believe in Buddhism or Hinduism or Scientology. Without clear evidence of which religion is “right”, how would one know that he has hedged his bets correctly?

In fact even inside Christianity, there are different denominations and churches, and they all believe in slightly different things. And these differences are significant, for otherwise there would be no need to set up the different factions.

Thus from a logical perspective, the probability of one’s belief being “right” is actually extremely small.

The next logical conclusion is that we should still have a belief, for a small chance of being “right” is better than no chance at all.

But this is neglecting the concept of seeing atheism as a choice/religion in itself. Perhaps atheism is the only way of being “right” and having ANY kind of beliefs will doom us to being “wrong”. Without clear evidence to the contrary, we cannot discount this possibility.

Thus my final logical conclusion is, it doesn’t matter if you believe in a god, or which god you believe in. All of us have an equal chance of being right (or much much more probably, wrong).

http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_456954.html

This must mean that there are thousands and thousands of Singaporeans in a very desperate situation. Whether they regret it or not, I am sure the MIW are extremely worried that the problems of gambling will worsen and result in more social ills once the casinos open.

One bad decision after another.

What you have narrated is a universal problem faced by mankind. In poor countries their plight would be worse (as you have highlighted) but generally the problem persists, even it is evident in the US on an exception basis.

So we have to ask whether there is a God. And if he exists, why does he allow this state of affairs to persist where some people are suffering while others are having a whale of a time. Even worst still, a scenerio of the fortunate few who had it good at the expense of others’ suffering.So does God exists? No one can really answer this question while he is alive. He will only know it when he dies, whether there is a hereafter.

So the dichotomy of this situation (that when you finally know the answer it would not have mattered anymore because you would have crossed into another realm) is a bridle to prevent anyone from having the this answer and allowing him to profit from this privilege while he is still alive. Our present belief system is based on faith and not the answer. Which leads us to another greater question than the first. And that is : What is the Grand Design?

LKY will very soon be able to know the answer to the two questions posed. They may not have been in his mind (which was preoccupiedall this while with amassing all that power). The 70 year old Mdm Chen has already crossed this threshold. In this respect, all the intelligence which LKY thinks he is endowed with does not even hold a candle to the knowledge that Mdm Chen now has (in that great somewhere). Death indeed is the leveller.

Such is the mortality of men, and the viscosity of life. And some wither away their time on earth without any compassion for their fellowmen (the PAPies). While others make themselves sacrificial lambs for society (the ex-political detainees).

Which leads us back to what we should do, to believe in the existence in God, or not to believe. The answer lies in mathematical logic :

If a life time is equivalent to 90 years, and thereafter is forever, the stretch of our mortal years is only a tiny speck relative to the yonder. SO IT IS BETTER TO BELIEVE THAN NOT TO BELIEVE.