State, Society and Religious Engineering : Towards a Reformist Buddhism in Singapore (Second Edition)

The book looks at how religion in Singapore is being subjected to the processes of modernisation and change. The Singapore State has consciously brought religion under its guidance. It has exercised strong bureaucratic and legal control over the functioning of all religions in Singapore. The Chinese community and the Buddhist Sangha have responded to this by restructuring their temple institutions into large multi-functional temple complexes. There has been quite a few books written on the role of the Singapore State but, so far, none has been written on the topic - the relationship between state, society and religion. It will help to fill the missing gap in the scholarly literature on this area. This is also a topic of great significance in many Asian, particularly Southeast Asian, countries and it will serve as an important book for future reference in this area of research and comparative studies.

From China to Facebookistan, the Internet has transformed global commerce. A cyber-law expert argues that we must free Internet trade while simultaneously protecting consumers.

On the ancient Silk Road, treasure-laden caravans made their arduous way through deserts and mountain passes, establishing trade between Asia and the civilizations of Europe and the Mediterranean. Today’s electronic Silk Roads ferry information across continents, enabling individuals and corporations anywhere to provide or receive services without obtaining a visa. But the legal infrastructure for such trade is yet rudimentary and uncertain. If an event in cyberspace occurs at once everywhere and nowhere, what law applies? How can consumers be protected when engaging with companies across the world?

In this accessible book, cyber-law expert Anupam Chander provides the first thorough discussion of the law that relates to global Internet commerce. Addressing up-to-the-minute examples, such as Google’s struggles with China, the Pirate Bay’s skirmishes with Hollywood, and the outsourcing of services to India, the author insightfully analyzes the difficulties of regulating Internet trade. Chander then lays out a framework for future policies, showing how countries can dismantle barriers while still protecting consumer interests.

Contents List of Diagrams Note on Romanisation Preface to the Second Edition Acknowledgements to the Second Edition Introduction PART 1: INVENTING A RELIGIOUS TRADITION 1. Reinventing Chinese Syncretic Religion: Shenism 2. Communicating with Gods, Deities and Spirits PART 2: STATE, SOCIETY AND RELIGIOUS ENGINEERING 3. Bureaucratising the Temple and the Sangha 4. Establishing an Ethno-Religious Framework and the Religious Law 5. Buddhist Welfare and Charity 6. Experimenting with Religious Values as Asian Values PART 3: TOWARDS A REFORMIST BUDDHISM 7. Towards a Reformist Buddhism 8. Members and Their Religiosity 9. Competing Claims of Modernity and Class Identity: 271 Christianity versus Reformist Buddhism Conclusion Postscript to the Second Edition: Towards a Humanist and Socially-engaged Buddhism Glossary Bibliography Index Kuah-Pearce (sociology, U. of Hong Kong) explains how Chinese religious syncretism Shenism is being forced to change and adapt to the modern needs of society and state within Singapore Chinese society. The Singapore state, the Buddhist Sangha, Reformist Buddhists, and aggressively proselytizing Christian fundamentalists are among the agents she identifies as responsible for transforming the religious landscape. Distributed in the US by ISBS. Annotation (c) Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com) Buddhism—Singapore.Buddhism—Social aspects—Singapore.Buddhism and state—Singapore. Kuah-pearce Khun Eng. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 309-328) And Index.