Yah Lah But #741 ft. IPS Researcher - Why Religion is Rising in SG & Can AI Replace God? | Dr Mathew Mathews
Nov 17, 2025
Dr. Mathew Mathews, a leading researcher at the Institute of Policy Studies in Singapore, dives deep into the intricate relationship between race, religion, and national identity. He reveals surprising findings from a recent survey showing that many Singaporeans prioritize their religious and ethnic identities over being Singaporean. Mathew discusses the sensitivities involved in researching these topics, the rise of online religious engagement post-COVID, and even contemplates if AI could ever replace spiritual guidance—all while navigating the complex dynamics of faith in modern society.
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Name From Syrian Christian Naming Tradition
- Mathew Mathews explained his 'Matthew Matthews' name comes from Syrian Christian naming customs in Kerala.
- He shared classroom stories about students assuming he was Caucasian because of his name.
Breaking Taboo: Quantitative Research On Sensitive Topics
- Early Singapore researchers treated race and religion topics as highly sensitive and risky to study.
- Mathew Mathews helped open space for population-level quantitative studies on these topics.
Backlash From A Controversial Headline
- A 2019 headline claiming '15% find Muslims threatening' sparked heavy online backlash against the researcher.
- Mathew Mathews recounted threats and calls to report him, showing public sensitivity to such findings.