I refer to the article, 'Hope is here' (ST, Nov 14).

It is heartening to know that One Hope Centre is providing support for people affected by gambling and related money-lending activities. However, making non-Christians sit through 'Holy Communion and an hour-long sermon' bothers me.

The group's president, Reverend Edward Job, was quoted as saying that people of all religions are welcome and that the Christian method to recovery is used.

I would like to point out that there may be people who do not know that Christian methods are used by this group and they may be shocked when they attend a session.

We have to understand religious sensitivities in Singapore. One Hope Centre should add a clause to inform the public that it is a Christian group and sermons will be delivered at its sessions.

I note also that One Hope Centre is a support group, and is planning to expand its services islandwide. To cater to the vast majority, is it appropriate to use Christian methods and make people sit through sermons?

We have to bear in mind that Singapore is a multiracial and multi-religious society, and we do not want charities or counselling centres to offer their services only to their respective religious affiliations.

That is why the majority of charity organisations cater to society as a whole, regardless of race or religion. To cater to everybody, these organisations have to be secular, and not lean towards any religious beliefs. A very good example is Ren Ci Hospital, where religion is not used to help patients.

Lester Lam Yong Ling

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Yet another nice, sensible, logical letter by our fellow Singaporean in ST Forums.

Not.

I'll just borrow a few phrases from WoW General Forums: It's fine, learn 2 play. Cry more n00b. Why are you a troll priest? He despawns at 20% health saying it's not his time yet. You must face your target to burn his shadow. In Soviet Russia, faces melt you!

What's that? Exactly what that letter is. N-O-N-S-E-N-S-E.

Fallacy One:

"The group's president, Reverend Edward Job, was quoted as saying that people of all religions are welcome and that the Christian method to recovery is used.

I would like to point out that there may be people who do not know that Christian methods are used by this group and they may be shocked when they attend a session."

That guy's title is "Reverend". I'm sure that just sets up the expectation that the method of recovery used will be getting everyone who attends to dance to Barney songs and have a group hug, right? Even if you are too stupid to realise that, once you step in and find yourself in the midst of a sermon that makes you squirm in your seat, I'm sure you have enough initiative to just walk out of the door. If you say "I endured through the sermon even though I didn't like it out of courtesy and respect", then have enough courtesy and respect left in you to not go around whining about it like some 5 year old kid that can't find his teddy-bear.

Fallacy Two:

"We have to understand religious sensitivities in Singapore."

In my book, "religious sensitivities" includes "not whining about the religious methods used in Christian organizations that you have attended on your own free will". Too bad, the Singaporean idea of religious sensitivities is simply to ignore any and all religion, as if they will all disappear if they refuse to talk about it for long enough.

Fallacy Three:

This is the most serious one. The writer, before penning this letter, already presumed that whatever "religious methods" used is wrong and crap and does not work. Apparently he believes that only "secular" methods are trustworthy. Hey, that's religious insensitivity if I ever saw one. This is exactly why we need more of such organizations, to show the rest of the world, including those delusional atheists and agnostics, the POWER of CHRIST.

"Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." - John 4:13-14