"It's a story worth telling"

Rev Dr Ming Shun Chiang is Visiting Scholar at Wycliffe Hall. We asked him to tell us about the Christian Church in his home nation, Singapore - and the societal impact he hopes for from his research.

How is Christianity positioned in Asia?

The Philippines is the only Asian country where Christianity is the majority religion. Korea is 25% Christian and Singapore 19%. Since World War II Christianity has seen rapid growth in Asia although the rate may have plateaued.

Billy Graham may have called Singapore the ‘Antioch of Asia’- why?

There are 800 Christian congregations in Singapore. Between them, they send 560 members as missionaries to other countries. That's 1 missionary per 1.4 churches! They go to Asia, Africa, India... all over the world. This includes Restricted Access Nations (RAN) - which we prefer to think of as "CAN" (Creative Access Nations)!

What is the relation between religion and state?

The Singaporean State has always been cautious of religion (of any kind) because of the fear of extremism. Freedom of Religion is enshrined in law: you have the right to hold your faith. But this freedom doesn’t imply absence of constraints. It’s felt more as a set of responsibilities in how one practises one's faith so that a harmonious society is maintained.

Do we sense a paradox...?

Singapore's religious climate is both permissive and highly sensitive. It’s a country where sects are permitted that are banned elsewhere. Yet also where different faith groups are at constant risk of upsetting each others' sensitivities. A person of non-Christian faith may complain to Government, accusing a Christian of insulting their faith and the Pastor will be made to apologise. As a boy, I remember slipping Christian leaflets under doors. You would not do that now - you will get into big trouble!

How does Christianity contrast with Asian spirituality?

In Asia, the dominant religions mean that the spirit world is already very real and present in wider culture. Western religions are premised on a layered hierarchy - god at the apex, angels underneath, humankind below. Asian religions infer more of a Venn diagram: spiritual realm on one side, worldly realm on the other, and an intersection where these blur and overlap. In the West, the idea of a supernatural is contested. In Asia, it's more a case of what TYPE of supernatural you believe in. Belief in any god is much less of a mental leap.

Does this make conversion to Christianity easier or harder?

The smaller mental leap doesn’t make conversion easier. Unlike members of a secular society seeking religion to fill a gap, most of the Singapore population already have a religion. Consequently, there is a lot of ‘circling the wagons'.

What is your research focus?

Christianity and Nation Building is my current project. Most research on nation building has focussed on remedial interventions in failed states. Whereas I'm spotlighting Singapore as a successful state and showing how Christianity has contributed, by founding schools, for example, and through prison ministries and initiatives such as the Yellow Ribbon Project. I'm not really researching theology but taking a more practical bent.

What do you hope will be the impact of your research?

Firstly, I want to show there is more to the Christian life than going to church. That you can be Christian, and bring strongly Christian values to your work without being overtly 'religious'. I want to present Christianity as a faith that takes a broader, social perspective in ushering in the kingdom of God to benefit everyone.

Secondly, I want to tell the story of Singapore as ‘a home for everyone’: open to all races, all religions. I want to show how Christians have contributed to this country and are required to contribute. My work is a defence of Christianity and its role in building a successful nation. It's a message that needs telling!

Tell us about your seminary and its distinctive ethos

Trinity Theological College is the oldest, most prestigious (in my humble opinion) seminary in Singapore. It was founded in 1948, at a time when priests and pastors who’d all been imprisoned during the war were freed and came together to set up a Union Bible College. Trinity is governed by the mainline denominations: Methodist, Anglican, Lutheran, Presbyterian. It’s an inclusive ethos. We focus on what binds us, not what divides us.

Surprise us! How do you spend your time to relax?

I enjoy internet gaming and regularly win with my team at PUBG, which is a tactical military game where 100 players parachute onto an island and must outfight each other to survive. I'm also a food aficionado who loves to eat! You can follow my culinary enthusiasm on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hungrypastor/