How Are Christians Regarded In Thai Buddhist Society?

[MisterBill]

how are christians regarded in Thai buddhist society? i know that christians are only less than 1% of the population in Thailand but are Christians in general able to 'mesh in well,' so to speak? do buddhists in Thailand regard their fellow christians as 'brainwashed' or something or is christianity generally accepted in thai society? are thai christians mostly from the hill tribes or are they thai chinese or are they ethnic thais?

[garro]

I would say that Christians are treated well and respected in Thailand.

Sometimes the extremes that some Christian groups will go to in order to gain coverts is viewed with bemusement.

[yorkman]

My Thai brother in law is Christian, and my wifes sister converted before they married.

Not an issue really

At the Catholic school where they both teach there are lots of kids from Buddist families. They dont get brainwashed or anything.

I have got to agree with Garro though. My wife went to a meeting where there was an invited speaker from of the more extreme Christian groups, I have no idea why.

After he described Buddhism as evil, it sort of went downhill from there

[lannarebirth]

I think Rama 4, King Mongkut speaks for many:

"What you teach us to do is admirable, but what you teach us to believe is foolish."

[yorkman]

I think Rama 4, King Mongkut speaks for many:

"What you teach us to do is admirable, but what you teach us to believe is foolish."

And that about sums it up lanna.

I am not Christain by choice. Even though I had it forced on me at birth.

And I am not Buddhist, although I respect my wifes belief, and how it helps her through life day to day. I know and see how it gives her happiness.

Back to the original topic. She does not disrespect me for my non religious beliefs. That is Thailand. Does this answer the question originally posed?

[suegha]

I think Rama 4, King Mongkut speaks for many:

"What you teach us to do is admirable, but what you teach us to believe is foolish."

Well as a Bible reading and believing Christian I can seriously agree that many 'types' of Christianity do teach and believe foolishness!

[britmaveric]

I don't think Thai(s) care one way or another to be honest.

However maybe Brother Tony might be able to enlighten us more???

[suegha]

I don't think Thai(s) care one way or another to be honest.

However maybe Brother Tony might be able to enlighten us more???

Yeah, where is Bro Tony, he was always good for a laugh!

[garro]

I seem to remember that Brother Tony was threatening to go on some type of preaching tour of Afghanistan.

I hope for his sake that this was just a crazy notion which wore off him.

He seems like a nice character but he could probably do with learning respect for other people's beliefs.

At the end of the day, beliefs is all they are.

[suegha]

I seem to remember that Brother Tony was threatening to go on some type of preaching tour of Afghanistan.

I hope for his sake that this was just a crazy notion which wore off him.

He seems like a nice character but he could probably do with learning respect for other people's beliefs.

At the end of the day, beliefs is all they are.

Good point garro. Respect for each others beliefs is essential.

ps I didn't know Bro Tony was going to the 'Stan'! I really hope he didn't!

[PeaceBlondie]

Thais, whether Buddhist or Christian or animist or Muslim, generally have ten times as much tolerance for other religions as some of the rabid anti-religion farang. It is difficult to tell which are worse: the rabid missionary farang, or the even more rabid anti-religion farang.

[camerata]

I have a Thai Buddhist colleague whose wife is a Christian and their kids are being brought up as Christians. It doesn't seem to be a problem for him except that now and again his wife tries to persuade him to convert.

[toptuan]

I live in a fairly small province in Isaan. In our provincial capitol city of about 135,000 population, I am aware of at least five Christian Thai groups which meet regularly for worship.

Two of the groups have less than 20 members.

Two other groups are around 50 members.

The fifth group is a "mega-church" (by Thai standards) of about 500-600 members. It's a fairly well-established congregation which has been meeting for over 10 years.

In four out of these five groups, no foreign missionaries or farangs are in their leadership (including the mega-church)--entirely Thai indigenous.

Ethnically: Thai-Lao

Acceptance: Several of these church members show up in my university classes as students. They seem to integrate well socially and culturally, have many friends, and I don't see any ostracism by the Buddhist students.

[camerata]

Note: I've changed the topic title to better reflect the original post and keep the discussion more or less about Buddhism and Buddhist attitudes. Let's not get into off-topic stuff about Thai Christians.

[Xangsamhua]

I think Rama 4, King Mongkut speaks for many:

"What you teach us to do is admirable, but what you teach us to believe is foolish."

King Rama IV studied Latin with Bishop Pellagroix, the Apostolic Vicar, and in turn taught the bishop Pali. The king assisted at the bishop's funeral and accepted as a gift from the missionaries the bishop's episcopal ring.

Apart from the unfortunate aftermath of Constantine Faulkon's stupid attempts to convert King Narai the Great, creating a pretext for the Revolution of 1688, there has always been a good relationship between the Catholic Church and, later, the more responsible Protestant missionaries (Mor Bradley, Dr McFarland, etc.), with the monarchy. Responsible Christian mission work, where it brought about material benefit and peace to the people, has always been well regarded in Thailand.

[IMChris]

Compairing Buddhism to Religion is like apples to oranges. There is no God in Buddhism nor is it a belief system with a blind faith, but we do have certain fundamentals. Other Religion's, has a PARENT CHILD relationship, but in Buddism it is a Teacher / Student relationship.

Buddha said " Do not accept anything I say as true simply because I said it. Instead , test it as you would gold to see if it is genuine or not. If, after examining my teachings, you will find that thet are true, put them into practice. But do not do so simply out of respect for me."

What Im saying is you can incorporate Buddism into any other religion.

[suegha]

Compairing Buddhism to Religion is like apples to oranges. There is no God in Buddhism nor is it a belief system with a blind faith, but we do have certain fundamentals. Other Religion's, has a PARENT CHILD relationship, but in Buddism it is a Teacher / Student relationship.

Buddha said " Do not accept anything I say as true simply because I said it. Instead , test it as you would gold to see if it is genuine or not. If, after examining my teachings, you will find that thet are true, put them into practice. But do not do so simply out of respect for me."

What Im saying is you can incorporate Buddism into any other religion.

That's a good point. Although not a Buddhist myself I can appreciate how people will be christians or jews or whatever, and still adhere to Buddhist principles.

[Maestro]

While many people and also the English translation of Thailand’s constitution call Buddhism a religion I have always held and continue to hold the view that Buddhism is a philosophy, not a religion, but perhaps this is a mere question of semantics.

--

Maestro

[Xangsamhua]

While many people and also the English translation of Thailand's constitution call Buddhism a religion I have always held and continue to hold the view that Buddhism is a philosophy, not a religion, but perhaps this is a mere question of semantics.

--

Maestro

Interesting and very readable article here http://www.samharris.org/media/killing-the-buddha.pdf on whether Buddhism is at core a religion. Harris argues that religions permit faith that can't be fully supported by reason (something I think they acknowledge, on the ground that reasoning is finite); hence religions are bad; hence Buddhism shouldn't be a religion. (I think he confuses "religion" with attachment, as in "blind" faith or dogmatism, but the article is an interesting one.)

[lannarebirth]

While many people and also the English translation of Thailand's constitution call Buddhism a religion I have always held and continue to hold the view that Buddhism is a philosophy, not a religion, but perhaps this is a mere question of semantics.

--

Maestro

And I hold the view that it is psychology first, that became a philosophy and later a religion

[ISPY]

I seem to remember that Brother Tony was threatening to go on some type of preaching tour of Afghanistan.

I hope for his sake that this was just a crazy notion which wore off him.

He seems like a nice character but he could probably do with learning respect for other people's beliefs.

At the end of the day, beliefs is all they are.

Good point garro. Respect for each others beliefs is essential.

ps I didn't know Bro Tony was going to the 'Stan'! I really hope he didn't!

I am not a buddhist and work with a lot of Thai Buddhists. In my opinion the Buddhism is a very tolerant religion or way of living. Many Christians are not, unfortunately..... (not all). Extreme religions are never okay! But we need to have respect for everybody! And that is not an issue in Thailand. At least we never noticed.

[AYJAYDEE]

how are christians regarded in Thai buddhist society? i know that christians are only less than 1% of the population in Thailand but are Christians in general able to 'mesh in well,' so to speak? do buddhists in Thailand regard their fellow christians as 'brainwashed' or something or is christianity generally accepted in thai society? are thai christians mostly from the hill tribes or are they thai chinese or are they ethnic thais?

youre asking for a huge generalization here.

[jamesc2000]

While many people and also the English translation of Thailand's constitution call Buddhism a religion I have always held and continue to hold the view that Buddhism is a philosophy, not a religion, but perhaps this is a mere question of semantics.

--

Maestro

And I hold the view that it is psychology first, that became a philosophy and later a religion

Funnily I see it that way too!

[Xangsamhua]

how are christians regarded in Thai buddhist society? i know that christians are only less than 1% of the population in Thailand but are Christians in general able to 'mesh in well,' so to speak? do buddhists in Thailand regard their fellow christians as 'brainwashed' or something or is christianity generally accepted in thai society? are thai christians mostly from the hill tribes or are they thai chinese or are they ethnic thais?

Just noticed this question from the OP. I don't know about the Protestant missions, but the Catholics, who have focused more on welfare and development work rather than evangelism, have gained hardly any converts among Thai Buddhists. Their original work (16th century) was among the Catholic community already present in Ayudhaya, then (17th century) refugee Catholics from Vietnam and Cambodia established parishes in Bangkok (Samsen district). The Chinese and Portuguese formed a Catholic community in Thonburi in the 18th century (still there - the Goodijeens around Santa Cruz).

At present, the main concentrations of Catholics are in the Northeastern provinces bordering Southern Laos where there are many Vietnamese, the Eastern provinces, also a place of refuge for Vietnamese Catholics, the Northwest, where there are many hill people, and Bangkok with its large Chinese population. Where these minorities are not found in significant numbers the Catholic population is tiny.

There was one particularly dark period for Catholics in Thailand, and that was during the Jomphon Por (Marshal Pibunsongkhram) period just before the Japanese occupation, when Catholics were imprisoned as possible spies and seven, including children, were shot by the police in Mukdahan province. Like much of what happens in Thailand, though, it had nothing to do with Buddhism - just national chauvinism and an excessive desire to please the boss.

[Plus]

While many people and also the English translation of Thailand's constitution call Buddhism a religion I have always held and continue to hold the view that Buddhism is a philosophy, not a religion, but perhaps this is a mere question of semantics.

--

Maestro

And I hold the view that it is psychology first, that became a philosophy and later a religion

I doubt Buddha has ever separated his teachings like that, and I doubt they saw clear difference betwen religion and philosophy in those days.

[suegha]

While many people and also the English translation of Thailand's constitution call Buddhism a religion I have always held and continue to hold the view that Buddhism is a philosophy, not a religion, but perhaps this is a mere question of semantics.

--

Maestro

And I hold the view that it is psychology first, that became a philosophy and later a religion

I doubt Buddha has ever separated his teachings like that, and I doubt they saw clear difference betwen religion and philosophy in those days.

Really? Anything to back this up?

[lannarebirth]

While many people and also the English translation of Thailand's constitution call Buddhism a religion I have always held and continue to hold the view that Buddhism is a philosophy, not a religion, but perhaps this is a mere question of semantics.

--

Maestro

And I hold the view that it is psychology first, that became a philosophy and later a religion

I doubt Buddha has ever separated his teachings like that, and I doubt they saw clear difference betwen religion and philosophy in those days.

Really? Anything to back this up?

The Buddha specifically would not have incorporated worship of himself into his teachings as followers of the Buddhist religion often do. I'm sure he would see it as delusion to confuse the messenger/teacher with the message/teachings.

[suegha]

I totally agree with lannarebirth!

[jumnien]

In the early stages of buddhist spiritual practice, reverence and praise for the Buddha can be viewed as skillful means. The Buddha wasn't usually adamantly against skillful means.

[Plus]

There was no such thing as ateism in those days, there was no such thing as secularism either. Buddha didn't preach in spiritual vacuum or against the background of christianity, or under onslaught of "new ateists". Though term didn't exist, it was Hindu culture, there were gurus, pandits, rishis, sadhus and Buddha lived among them, learned form them, offered them respect and prayed to their chosen gods and so on (at least before his renunciation). He didn't need to prove that karma works since everyone learned that at school already, he didn't need to offer prove of reincarnation since that's what everyone learned at school, too.

We come to Buddhism with completely different schooling. We think that democracy is a natural order of society, we assume that equal human rights is a universal truth, we know that there's no scientific proof of existence of either God, gods, souls, ghosts and so on. We have different questions, wants, and needs, at least initially.

Now we rely on answers that weren't meant for us, they were given to people with completely different views of the world. Sometimes it doesn't make much sense, sometimes we imply sense that is not there.

Back to my original point - in those days people didn't look at buddhist monks as "philosophers" as opposed to "religious devotees" as we like to stress now.