{"id":48982,"date":"2026-06-02T17:03:37","date_gmt":"2026-06-02T09:03:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ttc.edu.sg\/english\/?p=48982"},"modified":"2026-06-02T17:04:52","modified_gmt":"2026-06-02T09:04:52","slug":"iro-conference-on-peace","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ttc.edu.sg\/english\/about\/faculty-ministry\/iro-conference-on-peace\/","title":{"rendered":"INAUGURAL IRO CONFERENCE ON PEACE"},"content":{"rendered":"

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INAUGURAL IRO CONFERENCE ON PEACE<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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Dr Roland Chia spoke at the Inaugural Conference on Peace organised by the Inter-Religious Organisation on Sat 30 May 2026 on the theme “Anchored in Peace: Singapore\u2019s Faith Communities in a Fractured World.” The conference was open to the public and saw an attendance of about 120 participants.<\/p>\n

In his presentation, Dr Chia argued that global conflicts\u2014particularly in the Middle East\u2014can intensify social and religious tensions worldwide, leading to antisemitism, Islamophobia and social polarisation. While Singapore has avoided serious violence, its multi-racial, multi-religious society and high digital connectivity make it vulnerable to such external pressures.<\/p>\n

The social peace Singapore enjoys is not accidental but the result of deliberate nation-building, resilient institutions, and mutual respect.<\/p>\n

Beyond pragmatic governance, Dr Chia suggested that religious traditions offer deeper resources for fostering harmony. Using Christianity as an example, he highlighted two key insights.<\/p>\n

First, the belief that all humans are created in God\u2019s image, granting every person intrinsic dignity and worth, which opposes dehumanisation and identity-based hostility. Second, the ethic of loving one\u2019s neighbour as oneself, which rejects scapegoating and encourages respect even towards those seen as \u2018other\u2019.<\/p>\n

Other faiths offer similar values: Islam\u2019s teaching that saving one life is like saving all humanity, Judaism\u2019s tikkun olam<\/em> (repairing the world), and Buddhism\u2019s metta<\/em> (loving-kindness).<\/p>\n

Dr Chia emphasised that faith communities must be active mediators of meaning, not passive recipients of global events. Religious leaders should help members critically evaluate online information, reject hate speech, and model civil discourse.<\/p>\n

Building deep relationships among faith communities\u2014through dialogue and cooperative action\u2014and fostering mutual respect and trust among leaders are essential. Ultimately, when people of different faiths stand together in solidarity, society can remain cohesive, resilient, and peacefully united despite global turmoil.<\/p>\n

Other speakers include:<\/p>\n