Introduction

Singapore is one of the wealthiest nations in the world; ranked third after Qatar and Luxembourg (Karmali, 2015). The country is a centre for technology, manufacturing, and finance, with a GDP (purchasing power parity) per capita of almost US$56,700; a country of millionaires with 1 in 35 people considered a member of this group, with this proportion predicted to increase by 2020 (Wealthinsight, 2015). Moreover, the mantra for economic aspiration in Singapore is the ‘Five Cs’ – condominium, car, cash, credit card, and country club memberships (Tan, 2016, p. 17); often an unveiled code for materialism among Singaporeans. However, wealth and materialism are not the only elements that play out in everyday life in Singapore. Religion is a significant part of Singaporean life, with 80 per cent of the population affiliated with a religion. While Singapore is one of the most religiously diverse countries in the world, it is Christianity (including Catholicism) that is the fastest-growing faith in the nation. How do Singaporean Christians reconcile wealth accumulation with materialist culture, particularly since the Christian bible schools its followers in equality (i.e. sharing with others less fortunate than themselves) and is critical of the pursuit of material possessions? By looking at two wealthy and popular megachurches in Singapore and their larger-than-life pastors – New Creation Church with Pastor Joseph Prince and City Harvest Church with Pastor Kong Hee – this chapter will use digital ethnography methods (e.g. webpages and social media platforms) to examine how wealth and material accumulation have become acceptable and incorporated into the essence of Singaporean Christianity.