Chapter Four. Religious Participation And Religiosity

Abstract

An analysis of the pattern and level of religious participation is important because religious participation is an important indicator of religious commitment. In a multi-religious society, the level of religious devoutness and fervour, more than the size of various religious groups, accounts much for religious harmony and inter-religious relations. This chapter examines several issues: Do different religions differ in the type and rate of religious participation? Were there differences in the frequency of participation between private religious practices performed at home, and the activities and rituals performed in the public places of worship? The chapter focuses on the degree of religiosity in Singapore and the correlation between religiosity and socio-demographic variables such as age, gender and socioeconomic status. Finally, it accounts for the high degree of religiosity among Singaporeans. Many Singaporeans, particularly the Christians and Buddhists were converts from another religion.Keywords: Buddhists; Christians; inter-religious relations; religious participation; religious practices; Singapore; socio-demographic variables