Thailand is the Most Religious Country in the World

[Pimay1]

If worshiping money was categorized as a religion Thailand would be number one worldwide.

[boomerangutang]

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

Did anyone fit the criteria? In other words, did anyone who was a Muslim, declare a change of religion (In a M.East country), and was not demonized for it?

'glimpsed the realm of the sacred, and the infinite vastness behind what that word (God) implies', as you put it.

Spirituality is not synonymous with belief in God. I and others have had deep spiritual insights/experiences without involvement of a God or religion. The human mind is capable of profound spiritual experiences. God and religion are inventions of Man. The twain aren't necessarily connected.

If worshiping money was categorized as a religion Thailand would be number one worldwide.

....after the Chinese.

[blazes]

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.

Or, as Jesus Christ said (apparently): "Let him who is without sin cast the first stone".

(Which reminds us how backward places like Iran and Saudi Arabia, those bastions of Shia and Sunni Islam, still are.)

[Neeranam]

If worshiping money was categorized as a religion Thailand would be number one worldwide.

Only if you hang out in tourist/girly bar areas or marry a country girl 20 years younger than you.

So people don't worship money in your country? Give us a laugh and tell us where you're from.

[blazes]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start =

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?

Dawkins is as fanatical in his atheism as many hell-fire preachers are in their descriptions of Hell. Quaint. Just as much a quack as all the other salesmen of snake oil.

[Thaddeus]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start =

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?

Dawkins is as fanatical in his atheism as many hell-fire preachers are in their descriptions of Hell. Quaint. Just as much a quack as all the other salesmen of snake oil.

He knocks on peoples doors and says ''Have you heard the bad news?''

[Bluespunk]

Most thais just pretend to be religious.

So just like everywhere else then.

Not in western Europe.

I disagree.

[Bluespunk]

"Never look down on anybody unless you're helping them up."

Jesse Jackson

Edited April 15, 2015 by Bluespunk

[seanpat]

The article is a joke or misleading. I have spent a lot of time in temples meditating and have dozens of books on Buddhism. But I very rarely engage in conversation with a Thai about Buddhism (even with my students from an elite university) because most don't have a clue. Regularly going to a temple to pray for lottery numbers or good luck on an exam, does not make one religious. It makes them mindless

[micmichd]

Most thais just pretend to be religious.

So just like everywhere else then.

Not in western Europe.

You must be quite religious if you think you can have lots of woman but your woman can have only one man.

Many Farangs' religion is nothing but sheer Imperialism, with Money as their God and Thai females bodies as their objects.

Edited April 15, 2015 by micmichd

[Rooo]

Abusive post removed.

[micmichd]

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.

Or, as Jesus Christ said (apparently): "Let him who is without sin cast the first stone".

(Which reminds us how backward places like Iran and Saudi Arabia, those bastions of Shia and Sunni Islam, still are.)

Just to remind you: Shiites are not Sunnites, and the majority of natives in Saudi Arabia are Wahabites.

Edited April 15, 2015 by micmichd

[Bluespunk]

The article is a joke or misleading. I have spent a lot of time in temples meditating and have dozens of books on Buddhism. But I very rarely engage in conversation with a Thai about Buddhism (even with my students from an elite university) because most don't have a clue. Regularly going to a temple to pray for lottery numbers or good luck on an exam, does not make one religious. It makes them mindless

Yeah, they've only spent their whole lives immersed in their faith. Whereas you've read books.

"When you think yours is the only true path you forever chain yourself to judging others and narrow the vision of God. The road to righteousness and arrogance is a parallel road that can intersect each other several times throughout a person's life. Its often hard to recognize one road from another. What makes them different is the road to righteousness is paved with the love of humanity. The road to arrogance is paved with the love of self."

Shannon L. Alder

[Neeranam]

The article is a joke or misleading. I have spent a lot of time in temples meditating and have dozens of books on Buddhism. But I very rarely engage in conversation with a Thai about Buddhism (even with my students from an elite university) because most don't have a clue. Regularly going to a temple to pray for lottery numbers or good luck on an exam, does not make one religious. It makes them mindless

Can you speak fluent Thai?

If not, maybe why you rarely engage in conversation talk with them.

I speak about Buddhism/other religions and spirituality with Thais more than any other nationality.

[Moonlover]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

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.

I presume that you haven't lived in the Middle East then

[micmichd]

I'm afraid something's going the wrong way here.

According to OP, it's the least and the well educated parts of Thai society that call themselves religious. According to some posters, religion is for the poor. Now you come up and simply doubt the intelligence of Thais.

Did it ever come to your mind that there is no necessary correlation between material wealth and intelligence?

How many in your own countries are well-educated academics and still have to work as self-employed taxi-drivers or something like that? Maybe academic bar girls?

You do everything to make Thais dependent, keep them dependent, and then bash them for not being able to think independently. It's maybe an arrogant misconcept, you don't want really them to be independent. You prefer slaves.

Edited April 15, 2015 by micmichd

[ttthailand]

Just because someone posts something on the Internet does not make it true. Questionnaires are also answered but the information provided might not be honestly given. In addition, Information can also be interpreted differently by different people.

So basically don't believe everything you read. Someone is trying to make a point to prove some agenda.

[simple1]

Just because someone posts something on the Internet does not make it true. Questionnaires are also answered but the information provided might not be honestly given. In addition, Information can also be interpreted differently by different people.

So basically don't believe everything you read. Someone is trying to make a point to prove some agenda.

OP is based upon a Gallop poll of approx 1000 people from each of 65 countries. Some Muslim majority countries, e.g. Bangladesh, score only 1% less than those polled in Thailand.

Within this topic, apart from a few who have in-depth experience of Thais and Buddhism, a lot of noise about nothing...

[dominique355]

No it isn't.. the Philippines is the most religious country in the world - if devout Christians count

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.

Yes they do. For the Muslims it is a crime punishable by death to renounce to the Muslim faith. Also to be an atheist is punished by death.

[LuckyLew]

Yup, all Thais wanna be monks now, it is the job that pays the most ... tax free too

[Bluespunk]

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.

Yes they do. For the Muslims it is a crime punishable by death to renounce to the Muslim faith. Also to be an atheist is punished by death.

Try to read the posts before responding.

What I responded to is a completely different issue from the one you want to pursue.

[Gunna]

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.

Or, as Jesus Christ said (apparently): "Let him who is without sin cast the first stone".

(Which reminds us how backward places like Iran and Saudi Arabia, those bastions of Shia and Sunni Islam, still are.)

Just to remind you: Shiites are not Sunnites, and the majority of natives in Saudi Arabia are Wahabites.

And just to remind you that Wahhabism is an ultraconservative branch of Sunni Islam

[Somtamnication]

I truly believe that it is the most religious country in the world. I mention Jesus Christ at least 20 times a day.

[tonypace02]

According to OED, Buddhism is a religion. It is a group of people who come together in a common philosophical belief, even if that belief does not include a deity.. Also, like most other religions, it practices certain social rituals, such as weddings, funerals, etc.

[metisdead]

Some nonsense posts have been removed.

[micmichd]

No it isn't.. the Philippines is the most religious country in the world - if devout Christians count

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.

Yes they do. For the Muslims it is a crime punishable by death to renounce to the Muslim faith. Also to be an atheist is punished by death.

BS. I called myself an atheist in many Muslim countries, and I'm still alive.

[issanaus]

According to OED, Buddhism is a religion. It is a group of people who come together in a common philosophical belief, even if that belief does not include a deity.. Also, like most other religions, it practices certain social rituals, such as weddings, funerals, etc.

In the context of the OP and thread the question really is - if the individual asked the question identifies with a religion/spiritual philosophy and if that person accepts the teachings as they understand them to be an import part of their perception of who they are.

The question of the standard of understanding and application of the teachings is a total different question. Given that most answering the thread a very limited or incorrect understand of the teachings (sadly the same may be true of many who identify as being a 'Buddhist') the second unasked question is beyond the ability of TVF to provide and truly informed answers.

Essentially we should be looking at our own understandings and addressing the fetters that obstruct our own development rather than being critical of others.

Edited April 15, 2015 by issanaus

[Yunla]

This would be impossible to chart, it is such a dead end subject to try and make rankings on.

Every religion has different modes of faith, yet all would be counted in any of these lists. You could break them down into 'believers', who genuinely believe in deities or believe in superstition/consequence as a by-product of deities, and 'followers' who will be part of a religion for a variety of reasons including family beliefs, financial success, and even personal survival in some of the more strictly-enforced places.

The sheer breadth of reasons and degrees included in the spectrum of any religion, makes this kind of "most religious" charting just absurd. Its like saying a nation has the most watery raindrops.

[elgenon]

So Thai Buddhists are not necessarily religious but all Catholics are? My next door neighbors care more about what they wear to church than what is happening. And they certainly don't act in a Christian (or Catholic) way towards me. Or to anyone in the neighborhood. They commit mortal sins with impunity.

I

[boomerangutang]

According to OED, Buddhism is a religion. It is a group of people who come together in a common philosophical belief, even if that belief does not include a deity.. Also, like most other religions, it practices certain social rituals, such as weddings, funerals, etc.

Buddhism does have a deity: The Buddha. In every other way, Buddhism is a religion. It's fashionable to call it a philosophy (not a religion) but that's deflection.

As for Atheism. The perception is: if people don't believe in God, then they must then believe in nothing. How ridiculous. Atheists believe in nature, science and truth, with an emphasis on nature. Deists believe in nature to some degree, but then feel compelled to embellish things with myths (virgin giving birth, God Smyting non-believers, deliverance from {canceling out} sins by prayer, gaining merit by letting captured birds out of cages, etc).

Nature can be every bit as awesome as myths. The difference is, nature is real, whereas myths are embellished stories - of the sort you tell to your little kids at bedtime.