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‘Hinduism’ and ‘Taoism’ in Singapore: Seeing points of convergence

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 December 2007

Vineeta Sinha*
Affiliation:
Vineeta Sinha is an Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology at the National University of Singapore.
*
*Correspondence in connection with this paper should be addressed to: [email protected].

Abstract

The paper begins by documenting the meanings the labels ‘Hinduism’ and ‘Taoism’ carry locally and highlights the complexities and ambiguities in discussions that invoke them. I then present data which demonstrate significant points of convergence between these two religious traditions, viewed as ‘ethnic religions’ and asserted to be ‘different’ in the Singaporean context. The turn to the organisational domain is instructive in revealing how ‘Hindu’ and ‘Taoist’ institutions have talked about their respective religions in the public sphere. This focus allows me to highlight overlaps in the two sets of discourses, to ask why these affinities should exist and to reflect on the sociological implications of such a phenomenon.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The National University of Singapore 2008

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