When it comes to religion, even the non-religious have much to say. Whether it’s free-thinkers who’ve encountered over-enthusiastic friends eager to introduce them to a certain faith, or people who feel differently from others of another denomination, religion seems to touch a raw nerve in most of us.
Some say business and religion should never mix. From trawling online forums the past week, what I know is when the two are mentioned in the same breath, they make for a combustible topic.
That religious charities need somewhere to park or invest their money, that businesses can be run as (profitable, but not-for-profit) social enterprises for the greater good, that wealth is not contrary to one’s faith, that churches should seek to emulate Jesus who lived humbly – they’re all sound arguments in my opinion.
But I reckon if you’re on the Board making decisions and trying to find a consensus, it can be a tough call to strike the right balance. And sometimes, the answers aren’t so clear.
Whatever the outcome of investigations into City Harvest-linked organisations and individuals, I think the church and its members have handled the pressure as best they could in the past week.
Last Monday when MediaCorp went to its Suntec corporate office, staff were clearly uneasy at the sight of unexpected strangers. But they kept their smiles and composure. Church members have also been forthcoming with their views – and while they had a lot more to share about their church and pastor than I could include in my stories, I just want to say thank you for your time and willingness to speak.
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