Our ex-President, Paul Tobin, wrote to the Straits Times forum to explain what atheism means. He was responding to Pastor Lawrence Khong’s comment in a previous interview that atheists are religious with belief systems. Mr Tobin responded by saying that atheism is not a belief system for it merely describes the absence of belief in god(s). Original letter submitted to the press: [Read more…]

In a forum letter, George Lim mentions the Humanist Society. His letter argued that charitable giving transcends religion and it is human nature to give. He also added that the Singapore spirit should not be dichotimised into religious and non-religious groups.

http://www.straitstimes.com/premium/forum-letters/story/helping-needy-transcends-religion-20130715

For original copy of article, email us.

Our reply to a journalist’s concern that ‘the rise of atheism or those who are not religious might (hinder philanthropy). Zheng Huifen, the author, pointed out that non-religious people donate to charity and take part in volunteer work too. Original letter submitted to ST: [Read more…]

This article about the secularism in Singapore was published on April 10, 2013 on the UK Rationalist Association’s website.

Photo: Humanist Society (Singapore)

Secularism in Singapore

Large numbers in this thriving South East Asian state profess no religious beliefs, yet a dated colonial Penal Code means atheists do not enjoy equal rights under the law. John van Wyhe and Huifen Zheng on the trouble with religious freedom in Singapore.

[Read more…]

In a letter published in Today Voices (7th Apr 2013) in response to law lecturer Tan Seow Hon’s commentary on reviewing abortion laws, committee members Zheng Huifen and Chen Liyan argue that emphathy and solutions are needed to prevent unwanted pregnancies in the first place, and that banning abortion will infringe on women’s fundamental rights. [Read more…]

HSS was quoted in Lianhe Zaobao, the Chinese daily newspaper (last 2 paragraphs). The article covered an interfaith seminar, Building Bridges Seminar organised by the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS). Lawrence Wong, Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, was invited as guest-of-honour. HSS members attended the event in their personal capacities and our President was interviewed by several members of the press.

Raffles Press published an article called Diary of an RI Intern: Writing for the Straits Times featuring Miranda Yeo, who graduated from RI in 2011.

Miranda described her experience as an intern at the Straits Times Newsdesk. In one paragraph, she described meeting Mr Ang Hock Guan, a humanist in his 90s:

“I met an elderly and deaf man, Mr Ang Hock Guan who lived alone in a one-room flat. He had so little to himself – nothing more than a bed, a cupboard, a table and a bookshelf. I befriended him and found out he was intelligent and believed in humanism, a theory that mankind does not need religious structures to form a sense of morality. He wrote essays upon essays, annotating his yellowed copies of philosophy books – but I was his only reader. He said his last wish was to join the Humanist Society of Singapore, so I managed to arrange a visit to his home with the society’s president. That day, he held my hands and told me I was an angel. But that very night, he passed on.”

Our President that year, Mr Mark Kwan, met Mr Ang and helped fulfill his wish to be a HSS member. In 2014, we mentioned him in our commentary in Yahoo, Recognising Non-Religious Singaporeans.  Here’s the photo of Mark and Miranda with Mr Ang, shortly before his death.