A (Temple) Walk to Remember

Today was our Temple Walk! We spent the day learning about the different religions that have played a role in the development of the Singapore culture. A few days ago, I mentioned visiting the Hindu temple for the goddess, Kali. We learned all about Hinduism and Kali’s temple in particular. Today, we took everyone else in the class to her temple and discussed what we had learned about her. We also got to learn about the two other major religions, Islam and Buddhism.

We learned about Islam first. The Mosque we visited was the largest in Singapore. Since it was built in an area that already had influence from other religions, the building reflects the architecture of many other cultures, such as the onion dome to mimic Indian architecture and the high ceilings to mirror gothic cathedrals. To be respectful, girls and guys had to wear clothing that covered their legs and shoulders. The girls could also wear headscarves as a sign of respect. I had never been in a mosque before and it was definitely an eye-opening experience.

Later in the day we went to the largest Buddhist temple in Singapore. The temple was also a monastery and the monks lived and worked in the temple. It’s heard to describe just how intricate and beautiful this temple was. We were able to listen to one of the prayer services and wander around the expansive property. One of the buildings was home to one of the largest statues of Buddha in Southeast Asia. It had to be at least 30 feet tall! Everyone remained in quiet reverence while we explored the different buildings and learned more about Buddhism.

 I was sad that we didn’t get to visit a Christian church. From what I can see, Christianity also had an influence in the culture of Singapore. I think our professors wanted us to explore the religions that we aren’t exposed to in the United States. Hopefully, I will have a chance to attend a Christian church service for Easter!