Buddhism As National Religion Would Fuel Extremism: Scholar, Author

By Pravit Rojanaphruk, Senior Staff Writer

 

  

A banner opposing construction of mosques in Bueng Kan province's Phon Charoen district posted to a Thai Facebook page that is a clearinghouse of anti-Muslim sentiments. Photo: No Mosques in Bueng Kan / Facebook

 

BANGKOK — A Buddhist scholar and foreign correspondent both warn in recent books of the rising specter of Buddhist nationalism in Thailand.

 

Buddhist scholar Suraphot Thaweesak recently warned that a bid to enshrine Buddhism as the national religion would increase the kind of extremism that French journalist Arnaud Dubus writes about in his recently released book “Buddhism and Politics in Thailand.”

 

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/featured/2018/03/20/making-buddhism-national-religion-would-fuel-extremism-scholar-author/

 

-- © Copyright Khaosod English 2018-03-20

Interesting read,  the reactionary militarized monk is a predictable response to the existential threat posed by other "religion of peace"   C *

Buddhism in the Thai context should be referred to as Thai "Buddhism"  so as not to confuse the uninitiated as to the true tenets of Buddhism and once done we can just assume Thai Buddhism is just the same as any other Thai institutions. The test to apply to any of these os called holy pronouncements is ;

 

“Ceasing to do evil, Cultivating the good, Purifying the heart: This is the teaching of the Buddhas.” The Buddha

 

But hey it's easier to get hung up over some farang slight on an idolatrous Buddha statue than to actually gen up on what religion they are supposedly following. As the Thai Aboot of  my local Wat in the Uk said "You need to be extremely careful as to which temple you attend in Thailand" - which is his diplomatic way of saying most are corrupt , have lost their way and serve no other purpose than themselves. 

 

17 hours ago, webfact said:

Buddhism As National Religion Would Fuel Extremism

Astonishing recognition by scholar Suraphot Thaweesak. Isn't that what all organised religions do? I don’t trust any organization that has a handbook, and the only good thing ever to come out of a religion was the music.

The final statement in the article is:
“The solution is to separate religion from the state and questions the relationship between the state and religion. The state must be impartial among religions.”

 

This is good advice and highlights the problem with all religions. When the state laws are aligned with specific religious customs, as opposed to general religious customs such as, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you", or "Do no harm to others", or "Love they neighbour", then inevitable conflict will follow, as has happened, and continues to happen, in most Moslem countries.

 

Religious belief is a personal matter. People should be allowed to believe in anything they want to, provided such beliefs do not harm themselves and/or others. 

What is the difference between Buddism and all the other religions???

20 hours ago, webfact said:

a bid to enshrine Buddhism as the national religion would increase the kind of extremism

Prayut recently described The Pillars of Thai society as being the Monarchy, Buddhism and Nation.

Clearly from the military's viewpoint as the self-appointed protector of those pillars, Thailand is a nonsecular Buddhist State. That contravenes the Constitution that holds Thailand as a secular State.

Promotion of anti-Muslim sentiments in Thailand will incentivize recruitment for the Muslim insurgency whose aim is at least semi-autonomy from the Kingdom of Thailand.

 

 

As the late and great Christopher Hitchens shrewdly observed, religion poisons everything. 

 

There should be no national religion anywhere. People should be allowed to believe whatever they want. I’m an atheist, but I’d never want atheism to be the national agenda. People should be free to believe in whatever. 

 

When it comes to government and society, we should share ideas. Ideas based off facts and all things tangible.

“I believe” is a personal thing. You want people to believe - present the evidence or keep that s*** personal. 

Mosques in many countries are nothing but breeding grounds for Suni radicals. It is always can't we just get along until they reach the numbers to say, "our way or your head comes off".

All Religions and I do mean ALL Religions are about 3 things and 3 things only. MONEY, POWER AND CONTROL OF THE POPULATION.!!!