Some health and environmental concerns brought about by some religious rituals...

In a multi-religious society like Singapore, tolerance is the key to harmonious co-existence of believers of the various religions. Religious practices and rituals are supposed to be something rather personal. And, most religions encourage doing good and not causing harm to others as part of their fundamental teachings and a way of life for their followers.

A typical situation that arises regularly is the burning of the incense papers performed by many Chinese who practise the Chinese traditional beliefs and religions. Such activities take place on various Chinese festivals and more so during the Seventh Month (Hungry Ghosts) Festival.

With all due respect to the various religions and their followers, I am not sure if people who carry out such burning realise that the rate of asthmatic attacks and breathing difficulties increases drastically during those festive seasons and some of them were even hospitalised because of the air pollution that triggered their attacks. Would that be considered causing harm to others? Most sufferers would tolerate the agony in silence under the banner of Religious Harmony. Would a religion with its best intent, allow such harm to be inflicted on others especially through air pollution created by its religious activities, when people basically have no control over the air they breathe into their lungs? As I am writing this blog, the polluted air with burning smell is filling my room. By town councils providing the big bins for burning the incense papers, does it mean that they endorse such religious practice? Does the Ministry of Environment take issue with the air pollution caused by such burning? What is the government's stand on this vis-a-vis the Religious Harmony Act?

Besides the air pollution, there is also environmental pollution. Often, heaps of ashes were piling up in the middle of pedestrians' pathways after the burning rituals. Also, the ashes from the bins were usually blown off by the wind and get into those residential units at the lower floors of the HDB flats. It does cause lots of inconvenience to those residents.

Just thinking aloud, would the followers of such religions spare a thought for and be more merciful towards others in terms of health and environmental concerns? Are there no other alternatives that are more environmental-friendly and yet do not compromise the religious principles? It is known that some have replaced oil lamps with the electrical equivalent and fresh flowers with artificial ones. Would the religious leaders of the concerned faiths provide the necessary leadership for change? Would the Religious Harmony Act be reviewed to address such issues? Would the burning be confined to a certain area beyond the residential compounds, similar to what has been done under the No-Smoking Law. Blatantly speaking, would these followers burn the incense papers in their own house so they could confine the ritual and the resulting air pollution to within their own residence? Obviously, they wouldn't like the idea. So, according to a Chinese cultural teaching, it is said, "Do not give to others what you personally do not want."