Civil religion and the invention of traditions: Constructing 'the Singapore nation'
Publication Type
Journal Article
Publication Date
1-2007
Abstract
In this article, I adopt the concept of civil religion, and particularly those aspects that emphasize the importance of rituals and traditions in the construction of a ‘nation’, to examine the ways in which a particular nation—Singapore—is politically and socially constructed. Using two specific examples of invented rituals and traditions, I illustrate the ways in which the state attempts to build a sense of community and identity. The two examples I use are an annual choreography of spectacle and display to celebrate Singapore’s National Day, and the production of a tapestry currently on exhibition as a very public symbol of community and belonging.
Discipline
Asian Studies | Religion | Sociology of Culture
Research Areas
Humanities
Publication
Australian Religious Studies Review
Volume
20
Issue
1
First Page
77
Last Page
93
Identifier
10.1558/arsr.v20i1.77
Citation
KONG, Lily.(2007). Civil religion and the invention of traditions: Constructing 'the Singapore nation'. Australian Religious Studies Review, 20(1), 77-93.
Available at: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/soss_research/2241
Additional URL
https://doi.org/10.1558/arsr.v20i1.77