Hope for the Uncertain Future


We have come to the end of a troubled year brought about largely by the global financial crisis and natural disasters. It has resulted in business losses, unemployment and economic downturn that affected every one of us. We share in the agony of the people caught in the whirlwind of the typhoons, the swirling waters of the floods and the shattering tremors of the earthquakes in neighbouring countries. Although our suffering is not as acute as theirs we feel the pain too. The big question is Why?


In the midst of misery we wonder and we despair. People ask the question: “Where is my God or wonder if there is a God?” It is not surprising that one would abandon the God whom they worship and make their offerings and offer their prayers for help. Others question human ingenuity to overcome the trials and tribulations. Help we need but misery persists.


This year when the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) fighters were defeated after 26 years of civil war in Sri Lanka, I visited one of the military camps for the re-education of teenage soldiers. Can we imagine the plight of these idealistic youths after their defeat. They are Tamil Hindus, Christians and Muslim youths and the victorious government army is predominantly Sinhalese Buddhist. When a Sinhalese Buddhist monk and I, a Chinese Christian, representing a charitable trust visited them with relief supplies, what did they see in us. Is there a sign for lasting peace and reconciliation?


Living in a multi-racial and multi-religious society in Singapore we are vigilant in maintaining peace and harmony so as to ensure not only economic success but also social cohesion and political stability. We are aware of the fragility of our relationships. We must not allow racial and religious conflicts to visit our shores. Everyone is responsible to safeguard our survival. It is encouraging that our political leadership is embracing diversity and promoting common engagement not only for national security but community solidarity.


192 political leaders of the world gathered in Copenhagen to negotiate on the urgent need for climate control in reducing carbon emissions. They are convinced that they must reach agreement for the preservation of our precarious planet and for human welfare and survival. The more developed nations need to curb their consumption of non-renewable resources and share their wealth and expertise to assist the less developed countries in their growth without depleting more resources. It is reassuring that our leaders internationally are committed to negotiate further on climate control.


The Christian community just celebrated Christmas. It is a season of giving and receiving gifts among family and friends. This is done as an expression of the message of peace and goodwill. People in every faith community and in secular society need to embrace this message and communicate it. It is good to become peace-keepers and good-will ambassadors.



As we look back across the years we have made significant progress for the betterment of our human community. Important contributions in science and technology made our lives more healthy and comfortable. Significant advances in the social sciences made our life more enjoyable and meaningful. Ahead of us we sense the danger of terrorism and the threat of nuclear holocaust. This forward movement is not inevitable and we cannot be naïve to believe we are on automatic pilot. Most of the time we have muddled through and it has been a roller-coaster ride. Humankind will continue to advance and retreat and progress cannot be assured.


It is undeniably an uncertain future we face. Our survival is threatened. Is there hope? From a distance we hear the whisper that there is hope and we must move on.


Religious faith communities feel resurgence. Religions will not wither and God is not dead. Secular people are realizing there is something beyond the physical and material.. They have questions about prevailing nature of religion in terms of its static institutional form, dogmatic theological doctrines, routine rituals and practices.


Harvey Cox, influential theologian in Harvard University has released his new book, The Future of Faith. In it he observes that Christianity is moving from an “Age of Belief” which focuses on doctrines, creeds, rituals and hierarchies to an “Age of Spirit.” The secularization that he advanced before has moved to become a new form of spirituality.


People are disappointed with the lures of materialism and promises of secularization. Evangelicals recently are raising questions about the perils of the gospel of health and wealth despite its popularity. Lausanne’s Theology Working Group says its overall view is that "the teachings of those who most vigorously promote the 'prosperity gospel' are false and gravely distorting of the Bible." It declared pointedly “prosperity teaching as incompatible with evangelical biblical Christianity,"


More people in both religious and secular communities consider themselves as spiritual but not religious. This convergence emerges in highlighting the spiritual dimension in life. It is this renewed and enhanced form of spirituality that is relevant today to manage the opportunities, cope with the challenges and overcome the crisis in daily living.


This is clearly evidenced by the rich and famous Bill Gates, Warren Buffet and Rev Rick Warren in using their accumulated wealth to reach the poverty stricken African countries in dealing with HIV/Aids and malaria control as well as freeing those caught in the poverty trap.


Business tycoons and heads of corporations here who are religious and/or secular establish Charitable Trusts and exercise Corporate Social Responsibility expressing their concern for the less fortunate. Voluntary Welfare Organizations respond to various needs of the community. Even the poor lend support to one another with their limited resources.


The search for meaning and purpose proliferates among us. In our affluent society there is developing disenchantment with the material but growing endearment for the spiritual. Enough is enough as far as material things are concerned. But more is needed of love and care, mercy and compassion reflecting the spiritual element of human existence. When we are aware of this we nurture hope for the uncertain future.


May the New Year of 2010 be one of hope for you.

Yap Kim Hao