Thailand is the Most Religious Country in the World

[laobali]

^ Couldn't have said it better than BP (or is that BS ).

[Neeranam]

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I was thinking the same thing.

No it isn't.. the Philippines is the most religious country in the world - if devout Christians count alt=whistling.gif>

Saudi Arabia....I think they kill you if you are not religious

It makes one wonder how many muslim nations were in this poll...

No, of course the poll would not include Saudi Arabia or Pakistan. (Or quite a few others I could name) What is the point of holding such a poll in a country where the citizens are told what to believe?

The lunar eclipse, a few days ago, reminded me of an incident in Saudi Arabia a few years ago. There was a lunar eclipse there and I noticed that amid loud calls from the mosques, everyone rushed to prayers.

The following day I asked a Saudi work colleague of mine why they went to pray. His answer just about summed up religion as far as I was concerned. 'Because we are told to'.

Interestingly, according to many writers and commentators on religion, including the renown atheist, Richard Dawkins, Buddhism is not regarded as a religion, rather as an ethical system or a philosophy of life. Dawkins does not comment at all on Buddhism in his best known work, 'The God Delusion'.

That guy is a fraud - I watched some communication between him and Deepak Chopra - Dawkins omitted all the parts that made him look like the arrogant fool that he is.

I am amused at the conviction that he uses the word "God", when he hasn't even glimpsed the realm of the sacred, and the infinite vastness behind what that word implies, yet he seems to intellectually know what it is he is denying.

[Neeranam]

Thai people can talk the talk. But they can not walk the walk. Liieing, stealing, cheating not in this religion! Plus the taking of lives do not concern them. Not land of a thousand smiles!

What on earth are you on about?

How many weeks a year do you visit Pataya?

[mikemac]

Probably true

I never see another country that worship the $ like thailand ...

You should get out more !

[Ducking and]

Commenting on Bluespunk's latest post, I was simply talking about educated people. Between 60% and 40% there is indeed "a telling difference", one is 50% above the other. But these are just statistics (less important than or more important than lies and damn lies, depending on your viewpoint), anyway.

[3NUMBAS]

always a top money making scam right thru history ,thats how they came about in the first place ,all religion is about making cash

the land of a 1000 smackers

Edited April 14, 2015 by 3NUMBAS

[Commerce]

Thai people can talk the talk. But they can not walk the walk. Liieing, stealing, cheating not in this religion! Plus the taking of lives do not concern them. Not land of a thousand smiles!

What on earth are you on about?

How many weeks a year do you visit Pataya?

Did you read the name?

[Neeranam]

Thai people can talk the talk. But they can not walk the walk. Liieing, stealing, cheating not in this religion! Plus the taking of lives do not concern them. Not land of a thousand smiles!

What on earth are you on about?

How many weeks a year do you visit Pataya?

Did you read the name?

Maybe misspelled 'noob'!

[mikemac]

After reading many, many Thai bashing threads and topics on TVF over the years I have come to a mathematical conclusion - that the vast majority of TV posters who run Thai people down in their spare time, insist on living and socialising in the seedy areas that attract seedy types, like themselves, and only ever associate with the criminal element of Thai society.

They are basing their opinions of Thai people, and the country in general, on a small percentage of the actual population.

Not a very intelligent way to judge a country or it's people.

I spent my first 4 years in Thailand living in Chiang Rai and met lots of good people there I still class as close friends, the last almost 6 years in Chiang Mai and the same deal. I did not spend my time stalking the bar areas and seeking out the bars, drugs and crime scenes.

Most of the people I have met in Thailand have been good, honest people who treat me well and have never done me any harm.

Perhaps I am lucky, but certainly I feel sorry for the bitter and twisted types who would probably have been better off just staying home, instead of traveling all that way just to make themselves miserable.

Life's too short to spend it moaning, try to see the good in others.

Someone once said we only see the faults in others we don't see in ourselves.

[Thaddeus]

^ Couldn't have said it better than BP (or is that BS ).

I'd go for BP (unless he is actually a sexually frustrated Smurf)

[boomerangutang]

I am completely done with Thai "buddhism", it is not buddhism at all. It is animist superstition mixed with commerce... Went to a wat a couple of days ago: had to give money to have the monk tell your fortune... I told my wife It was bullshit, she kind of agreed but still better be safe than sorry so just hand over the bahts and listen to the old mans "advice". Not religion, just paying for magic...

If you think it's bs, then why even do it? I would not have. Perhaps if enough people call them on their crap, then they might think twice about peddling crystal-ball-gazing services.

I don't know what is funnier - the claim that Thailand is the most religious country or saying that they were voted most religious.

They weren't voted most religious, they voted themselves (individually) most religious. If you ask people in a community, "are you honest?" "are you a thief?" ...what will they say? Yet, that same community might have a lot of things stolen and a lot of lies told.

What would be more interesting, would be a survey about the # and % of lady boys. In both categories, Thailand would be tops.

What have ladyboys got to do with anything? I feel that you are suggesting that transgender people are somehow morally wrong or can't be good practicing Buddhists - are you?

No. I said what I meant, and meant what I said. Ladyboys are a separate topic. I think there's a problem when between 11 and 14% of males in a society wish they were (and act and dress like) females - but that's another topic for another time.

[mojorison]

Let's not confuse "religion" with "indoctrination", or "superstition". The Thais are completely indoctrinated on a range of issues from the minute they can walk.

[boomerangutang]

Most of the people I have met in Thailand have been good, honest people who treat me well and have never done me any harm.

'Most' could be 51%. I too have met good Thai people during my 16 years residing here. However, I've also had many things stolen, and been lied to and cheated numerous times. You can call me a Thai-basher if you want, but I call it as I see it. In fairness, most of the thieves (I've known here) have been hill tribers or Burmese or Laotians, but that's because I interact mostly with those ethnic groups. The baddies are in the small minority (one bad apple can spoil the whole bunch), but I don't deny bad things have happened in order to paint a rosy picture of the country I've chosen to reside in.

I've also had bad deals from farang (debts not paid back, etc), so the overall perspective is more a reflection of human nature, than particular nationalities. I've learned to lock things up more now, than I used to. I'm less naive and trusting.

[mikemac]

Most of the people I have met in Thailand have been good, honest people who treat me well and have never done me any harm.

'Most' could be 51%. I too have met good Thai people during my 16 years residing here. However, I've also had many things stolen, and been lied to and cheated numerous times. You can call me a Thai-basher if you want, but I call it as I see it. In fairness, most of the thieves (I've known here) have been hill tribers or Burmese or Laotians, but that's because I interact mostly with those ethnic groups. The baddies are in the small minority (one bad apple can spoil the whole bunch), but I don't deny bad things have happened in order to paint a rosy picture of the country I've chosen to reside in.

I've also had bad deals from farang (debts not paid back, etc), so the overall perspective is more a reflection of human nature, than particular nationalities. I've learned to lock things up more now, than I used to. I'm less naive and trusting.

Perhaps I could have worded that better boomerangutang, I should have said the "vast majority" have been good, honest people....................

I may have been lucky over the years but I have had very few experiences with being ripped off by Thai people, apart from my very first visit to BKK when I did not have a clue what I was doing and had "first timer" written all over me.

I am not calling you a Thai basher as I have read many of your comments in the past and your modus operandi is not running down Thais, as some posters do.

And I also do not try to make out Thailand is heaven on Earth,just to justify my decision to move there, build a home and start a family.

I have complaints just like anyone, the driving being one that comes to mind, but nowhere on this planet is perfect.

[Mr Somtam]

I am completely done with Thai "buddhism", it is not buddhism at all. It is animist superstition mixed with commerce... Went to a wat a couple of days ago: had to give money to have the monk tell your fortune... I told my wife It was bullshit, she kind of agreed but still better be safe than sorry so just hand over the bahts and listen to the old mans "advice". Not religion, just paying for magic...

If you think it's bs, then why even do it? I would not have. Perhaps if enough people call them on their crap, then they might think twice about peddling crystal-ball-gazing services.

Yeah I know, if I was just me I would not even go there in the first place! But I have a wife and inlaws that like to go. I have the idea it is more "better be safe than sorry" with most of them. They go but are not very serious about it... Strange... Asian... Not compatible with critical Dutch atheist like me. I talk about it with them, they respect my opinion, I respect theirs, no problem. Only thing I always think is: if they would have put all that money they spent on mor-doo's, temples and LOTTERIES in a bankaccount they could have been rich! That is the part they just don't get. They think "getting lucky" will get them somewhere in life, I believe hard work, thinking things through and saving for a rainy day do... TiT khrab!

Edited April 14, 2015 by Mr Somtam

[canuckamuck]

Saudi Arabia....I think they kill you if you are not religious

No they kill you if your not muslem.

No they don't.

Why not take your hate elsewhere.

I'm sure the KKK, NF or some other form of "Bigots are Us" are holding a meeting somewhere.

Why go along, I think you'll fit in quite nicely.

You're right of course they only kill you if you don't want to be a Muslim anymore.

[micmichd]

I am completely done with Thai "buddhism", it is not buddhism at all. It is animist superstition mixed with commerce... Went to a wat a couple of days ago: had to give money to have the monk tell your fortune... I told my wife It was bullshit, she kind of agreed but still better be safe than sorry so just hand over the bahts and listen to the old mans "advice". Not religion, just paying for magic...

If you think it's bs, then why even do it? I would not have. Perhaps if enough people call them on their crap, then they might think twice about peddling crystal-ball-gazing services.

Yeah I know, if I was just me I would not even go there in the first place! But I have a wife and inlaws that like to go. I have the idea it is more "better be safe than sorry" with most of them. They go but are not very serious about it... Strange... Asian... Not compatible with critical Dutch atheist like me. I talk about it with them, they respect my opinion, I respect theirs, no problem. Only thing I always think is: if they would have put all that money they spent on mor-doo's, temples and LOTTERIES in a bankaccount they could have been rich! That is the part they just don't get. They think "getting lucky" will get them somewhere in life, I believe hard work, thinking things through and saving for a rainy day do... TiT khrab!

Do you really believe YOU get rich if you put your money on a bank account?

[EyesWideOpen]

Buddhism is basically a series of teachings almost none of which Thais follow.

I almost admire how the Buddhists have morphed that into the concept that

Buddha is now a big guy in the sky carefully watching how much money you

give at the wat, and then dispensing luck based upon your donations. Christianity

is of course the same, except they work the fire and brimstone angle to create

fear.

All religions suck, as they generally bleed money from the poor people.

And without even consulting the Google God, I know as a certainty there is

a direct link between poor education and a deep seated belief in a god. It

truly is the opiate of the masses, it is so easy to see here........

[gandalf12]

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Saudi Arabia....I think they kill you if you are not religious

No they kill you if your not muslem.

No they don't.

Why not take your hate elsewhere.

I'm sure the KKK, NF or some other form of "Bigots are Us" are holding a meeting somewhere.

Why go along, I think you'll fit in quite nicely.

You're right of course they only kill you if you don't want to be a Muslim anymore.

That isnt even true. Boy were do you guys get your information from? I worked there for several years and no one was killed for the reasons you state

[Moonlover]

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I was thinking the same thing.

No it isn't.. the Philippines is the most religious country in the world - if devout Christians count alt=whistling.gif>

Saudi Arabia....I think they kill you if you are not religious

It makes one wonder how many muslim nations were in this poll...

No, of course the poll would not include Saudi Arabia or Pakistan. (Or quite a few others I could name) What is the point of holding such a poll in a country where the citizens are told what to believe?

The lunar eclipse, a few days ago, reminded me of an incident in Saudi Arabia a few years ago. There was a lunar eclipse there and I noticed that amid loud calls from the mosques, everyone rushed to prayers.

The following day I asked a Saudi work colleague of mine why they went to pray. His answer just about summed up religion as far as I was concerned. 'Because we are told to'.

Interestingly, according to many writers and commentators on religion, including the renown atheist, Richard Dawkins, Buddhism is not regarded as a religion, rather as an ethical system or a philosophy of life. Dawkins does not comment at all on Buddhism in his best known work, 'The God Delusion'.

That guy is a fraud - I watched some communication between him and Deepak Chopra - Dawkins omitted all the parts that made him look like the arrogant fool that he is.

I am amused at the conviction that he uses the word "God", when he hasn't even glimpsed the realm of the sacred, and the infinite vastness behind what that word implies, yet he seems to intellectually know what it is he is denying.

I do not allude to Richard Dawkins in any way to support an argument for, or against religion. I was simply pointing out his comments vis-a-vis Buddhism. I am not an atheist and do not fully agree with his points of view, but I do respect that he is a man who is honest regarding his convictions and is not afraid to speak out. I think that hardly qualifies him as a fraud.

Of course you are quite right, it is hardly likely that he has 'glimpsed the realm of the sacred, and the infinite vastness behind what that word (God) implies', as you put it. However just how many religious people do you know who have had that experience? Be honest now!

I read a quote recently in a book by Wayne Dyer. He, in turn was quoting Carl Jung who said that 'The purpose of Religion seems to be to prevent people from having a direct communion with God'. Would you call him an arrogant fool?

Edited April 14, 2015 by Moonlover

[DrTuner]

Let's not confuse "religion" with "indoctrination", or "superstition". The Thais are completely indoctrinated on a range of issues from the minute they can walk.

Thais must rank high on the scale of cultures incapable of independent thought. Phuat hua and all that. Enter a pre-packaged solution, complete with baskets from the nearest BigC.

[Rooo]

Off topic post removed as should have been several others. This is not a topic about Islam.

Thank you.

[hiller]

Here are the five precepts of Buddhism. So if you look at these precepts,

and look around at what actually happens in Thailand, then Thailand

considering itself to be a deeply devout Buddhist country becomes the

ultimate exercise in hypocrisy....

1. The Five Precepts

   • Not killing or causing harm to other living beings. This is the fundamental ethical principle for Buddhism, and all the other precepts are elaborations of this. ...
   • Not taking the not-given. ... ( stealing / scams )
   • Avoiding sexual misconduct. ...
   • Avoiding false speech. ...
   • Abstaining from drink and drugs that cloud the mind.

Most Thai people in Pattaya try to knock out these five before 8:00 AM.

[partington]

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I was thinking the same thing.

No it isn't.. the Philippines is the most religious country in the world - if devout Christians count alt=whistling.gif>

Saudi Arabia....I think they kill you if you are not religious

It makes one wonder how many muslim nations were in this poll...

No, of course the poll would not include Saudi Arabia or Pakistan. (Or quite a few others I could name) What is the point of holding such a poll in a country where the citizens are told what to believe?

The lunar eclipse, a few days ago, reminded me of an incident in Saudi Arabia a few years ago. There was a lunar eclipse there and I noticed that amid loud calls from the mosques, everyone rushed to prayers.

The following day I asked a Saudi work colleague of mine why they went to pray. His answer just about summed up religion as far as I was concerned. 'Because we are told to'.

Interestingly, according to many writers and commentators on religion, including the renown atheist, Richard Dawkins, Buddhism is not regarded as a religion, rather as an ethical system or a philosophy of life. Dawkins does not comment at all on Buddhism in his best known work, 'The God Delusion'.

That guy is a fraud - I watched some communication between him and Deepak Chopra - Dawkins omitted all the parts that made him look like the arrogant fool that he is.

I am amused at the conviction that he uses the word "God", when he hasn't even glimpsed the realm of the sacred, and the infinite vastness behind what that word implies, yet he seems to intellectually know what it is he is denying.

Interestingly, though Dawkins isn't a fraud, in the sense that he both believes what he says, and has published peer reviewed science papers as well as cogently argued books on evolutionary theory, Deepak Chopra is very likely to be.

It's noticeable that Chopra basically puts a load of buzz words together in senseless combinations to sound profound.

In fact there is a website that constructs fake Chopra quotes by just combining all his favourite words together by random generation. They don't seem any different to the "real" productions of Chopra, which I think have no discernable meaning at all.

It's a fun site: I just got

"the ego is inherent in precious truth"

"self power is the ground of abundant bliss"

and "the cosmos is the foundation of the door of timelessness" by three random generations. Sounds just like him!

If you generate enough random quotes from the site you could write a whole Chopra book!

Try it out! http://www.wisdomofchopra.com/

[Mr Somtam]

I am completely done with Thai "buddhism", it is not buddhism at all. It is animist superstition mixed with commerce... Went to a wat a couple of days ago: had to give money to have the monk tell your fortune... I told my wife It was bullshit, she kind of agreed but still better be safe than sorry so just hand over the bahts and listen to the old mans "advice". Not religion, just paying for magic...

If you think it's bs, then why even do it? I would not have. Perhaps if enough people call them on their crap, then they might think twice about peddling crystal-ball-gazing services.

Yeah I know, if I was just me I would not even go there in the first place! But I have a wife and inlaws that like to go. I have the idea it is more "better be safe than sorry" with most of them. They go but are not very serious about it... Strange... Asian... Not compatible with critical Dutch atheist like me. I talk about it with them, they respect my opinion, I respect theirs, no problem. Only thing I always think is: if they would have put all that money they spent on mor-doo's, temples and LOTTERIES in a bankaccount they could have been rich! That is the part they just don't get. They think "getting lucky" will get them somewhere in life, I believe hard work, thinking things through and saving for a rainy day do... TiT khrab!

Do you really believe YOU get rich if you put your money on a bank account?

Nice one! No, you won't get very rich but if you spend 200 baht every week on superstition you could instead have saved 140,000 baht with 3% annual intrest after 10 years... Now when the fridge or something breaks down there is no money to replace the thing... Could have saved up for that...

Edited April 14, 2015 by Mr Somtam

[Neeranam]

That guy is a fraud - I watched some communication between him and Deepak Chopra - Dawkins omitted all the parts that made him look like the arrogant fool that he is.

I was thinking the same thing.

No it isn't.. the Philippines is the most religious country in the world - if devout Christians count alt=whistling.gif>

Saudi Arabia....I think they kill you if you are not religious

It makes one wonder how many muslim nations were in this poll...

No, of course the poll would not include Saudi Arabia or Pakistan. (Or quite a few others I could name) What is the point of holding such a poll in a country where the citizens are told what to believe?

The lunar eclipse, a few days ago, reminded me of an incident in Saudi Arabia a few years ago. There was a lunar eclipse there and I noticed that amid loud calls from the mosques, everyone rushed to prayers.

The following day I asked a Saudi work colleague of mine why they went to pray. His answer just about summed up religion as far as I was concerned. 'Because we are told to'.

Interestingly, according to many writers and commentators on religion, including the renown atheist, Richard Dawkins, Buddhism is not regarded as a religion, rather as an ethical system or a philosophy of life. Dawkins does not comment at all on Buddhism in his best known work, 'The God Delusion'.

I am amused at the conviction that he uses the word "God", when he hasn't even glimpsed the realm of the sacred, and the infinite vastness behind what that word implies, yet he seems to intellectually know what it is he is denying.

I do not allude to Richard Dawkins in any way to support an argument for, or against religion. I was simply pointing out his comments vis-a-vis Buddhism. I am not an atheist and do not fully agree with his points of view, but I do respect that he is a man who is honest regarding his convictions and is not afraid to speak out. I think that hardly qualifies him as a fraud.

Of course you are quite right, it is hardly likely that he has 'glimpsed the realm of the sacred, and the infinite vastness behind what that word (God) implies', as you put it. However just how many religious people do you know who have had that experience? Be honest now!

I read a quote recently in a book by Wayne Dyer. He, in turn was quoting Carl Jung who said that 'The purpose of Religion seems to be to prevent people from having a direct communion with God'. Would you call him an arrogant fool?

You called him a writer and commentator on religion. All I said was he doesn't know what it is he doesn't believe in. Interesting what he said about Buddhism but I'd hardly call him an expert on religions.

To answer your question re people I know - I don't know many religious people but I know a lot of spiritual ones who have "had a glimpse".

If you don't know the difference between religious people and spiritual people - religious ones don't want to go to hell, whereas spiritual ones have already been there.

Wayne Dyer basically just paraphrases and plagiarizes clever people but I do read many of his books.

I wouldn't call Jung arrogant, not sure what makes you think I would. Coincidentally, I was reading about his discussions with his mentor, William James, who I would of course call an expert on religions after his Gifford

lectures at my old university. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gifford_Lectures

[cookee68]

In Thailand you can renounce your faith and nothing happens, do that in many Muslim countries and you will be killed, especially if you are a women, so I think that must make them religious freaks

[Beng]

Most thais just pretend to be religious.

[Bluespunk]

Most thais just pretend to be religious.

So just like everywhere else then.

[nidieunimaitre]

Most thais just pretend to be religious.

So just like everywhere else then.

Not in western Europe.