In loving memory
Gerri Hickman 1953-2005
Dedicated to the life and memory of Gerri Hickman. Loving wife, mother, sister, daughter, friend and teacher. Gerri was only 52 years old when she lost her 4 year battle with breast cancer on 9 April 2005. We miss her!
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Singapore
In 2011, Singapore became the 5th highest average hotel room rate city in the world. With only 2 casinos, in one year, Singapore has become the second largest gaming (revenue) destination in the world, 2nd only to Macau, Las Vegas trails with 78 casions and is in 3rd place. The population of Singapore is approximately 4.86 million. Singapore is very cosmopolitan and diverse with Chinese people forming an ethnic majority with large populations of Malay, Indian and others. English, Malay, Tamil, and Chinese are the official languages.
Some interesting religion facts
For your reading pleasure~ The top 4 religion (in terms of adherent population)
| Religion/Sect/ Belief System | Origins & History | Adherents Worldwide (approx.) | God(s) and Universe | Human Situation and Life's Purpose | Afterlife | Practices | Texts |
| Buddhism | Founded by Siddharta Gautama (the Buddha) in c. 520 BC, NE India. | 360 million | Varies: Theravada atheistic; Mahayana more polytheistic. Buddha taught nothing is permanent. | Purpose is to avoid suffering and gain enlightenment and release from cycle of rebirth, or at least attain a better rebirth by gaining merit. | Reincarnation (understood differently than in Hinduism, with no surviving soul) until gain enlightenment | Meditation, mantras, devotion to deities (in some sects), mandalas (Tibetan) | Tripitaka (Pali Canon); Mahayana sutras like the Lotus Sutra; others. |
| Christianity (Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox) | Founded by Jesus Christ in c. 30 AD, Israel. | 2 billion | One God who is a Trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit | All have sinned and are thereby separated from God. Salvation is through faith in Christ and, for some, sacraments and good works. | Eternal heaven or hell (or temporary purgatory). | Prayer, Bible study, baptism, Eucharist (Communion), church on Sundays, numerous holidays. | The Bible (Old and New Testaments) |
| Islam | Muhammad, 622 AD, Saudi Arabia | 1.3 billion (Sunni: 940 million) | One God (Allah in Arabic) | Humans must submit (islam) to the will of God to gain Paradise after death. | Paradise or Hell. | Five Pillars: Faith, Prayer, Alms, Pilgrimage, Fasting. Mosque services on Fridays. Ablutions before prayer. No alcohol or pork. Holidays related to the pilgrimage and fast of Ramadan. | Qur'an (Scripture); Hadith (tradition) |
| Hinduism | Indigenous religion of India as developed to present day. | 900 million | One Supreme Reality (Brahman) manifested in many gods and goddesses | Humans are in bondage to ignorance and illusion, but are able to escape. Purpose is to gain release from rebirth, or at least a better rebirth. | Reincarnation until gain enlightenment. | Yoga, meditation, worship (puja), devotion to a god or goddess, pilgrimage to holy cities, live according to one's dharma (purpose/ role). | The Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, Ramayana, etc. |