SOC252 Religion and Society Tutor Marked Assignment 02, 2026, Singapore

SOC252 Tutor Marked Assignment 02

This Tutor Marked Assignment (TMA02) is worth 25% of the final mark for SOC252 Religion and Society.

Due Date: 01/10/2026 11:55pm

Question 1

For this assignment you are asked to adopt a sociologically grounded perspective in observing and reflecting on the use of personal religious symbols in everyday life in Singapore. Such religious symbols may include ornaments (such as amulets), bodily decorations (such as henna or tattoos), and clothing as well as stickers and other religious objects displayed in cars, on house doors, or in shops and restaurants. It could also be other kinds of sensory symbols, such as sounds (e.g. mobile ringtones) or smells (e.g. incense or perfumes). Wherever relevant, do not focus only on differences between followers of the major world religions, but also consider variations within them (e.g. Shaiva/Vaishnava, popular Buddhist/Taoist, Catholic/Protestant differences).

Instructions to Students:

• You are free to narrow down the topic by focusing on specific social contexts or kinds of religious symbols, but you must explain the underlying academic rationale of your choices. While personal familiarity with particular contexts/religions is not a valid academic rationale, an in-depth comparative analysis in respect to a particular issue could be one.
• Relate your discussion to sociological concepts such as the negotiation of identity, performative religiosity, public vs private spheres, secular vs religious spaces (and times).
• Your project may rely on two main sources of data: observation of everyday life (including informal interviews, where appropriate) and at least three academic publications.
• On the basis of your observations and readings, develop a broader sociological argument about the use (and non-use) of personal religious symbols in Singapore.

Write your answer in 1500 words (+/- 10%). Please remember to provide the word count, and list of references. Be sure to use appropriate and academic sources, including your course materials.

(100 marks)

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