Magical Orientation of Religion among Malay/Muslims in Singapore: A look at Modes of Healing pertaining to Mental Illness

Abstract

Despite modernization that requires the employment of scientific knowledge, magical orientation of religion is still so prevalent and embedded in the lives of the Malays that one is unaware of the existence of such an orientation. This thesis seeks to examine the pervasiveness of magical orientation of religion, specifically in modes of healing of the Malay/Muslim community in Singapore where treating or confronted with mental illness. Three principle methods of data collection were employed to carry out the research. Data obtained were utilized to examine the impacts of magical orientation of religion on the well-being of the patients and the larger community. It is hoped that this thesis can garner greater critical attention in the prevalnece of magical orientation of religion couched as Islamic.