John Frum..similar cult here ?

[DisparateDan]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Frum

The most relevant clip.

Despite this effort, the movement gained popularity in the early 1940s, when 300,000 American troops were stationed in New Hebrides during World War II, bringing with them an enormous amount of supplies (or "cargo").^[9] After the war and the departure of the Americans, followers of John Frum built symbolic landing strips to encourage American airplanes to land and bring them "cargo". Versions of the cult that emphasize the American connection interpret "John Frum" as a corruption of "John from (America)" (though it could mean John from anywhere), and credit the presence of African American soldiers for the idea that John Frum may be black.^[

Some years ago the Liverpudlian (now deceased), who ran an excellent used books store in Soi Buhkoaw, told me that his wife's relatives believed

that all farangs had a bottomless pit of money, it was as unquestioned by them as the source of the Chaopraya river. ( his wife incidentally asked... in what part of the world did ET come from...?

Recent conversations make me ask how many of our readers have encountered the "John Frum", sincere belief by their gf, wife or other.

Edited September 28, 2015 by DisparateDan

[worgeordie]

The biggest cult here is Facebook and Line.

regards Worgeordie

[Seastallion]

I first came across the Vanuatu Cargo Cult and John Frum many years ago, and so I know what you're talking about.

Simple people will take hold of a belief if there is a chance that they will benefit in some way. Benefits lure faith.

Isn't it the same for all religions?

In so saying, I can totally believe that some simple Thais (I don't mean the euphamistic "simple") would hold with the belief that all farangs are rich beyond their own Thai wildest dreams and that to nab one via marriage is a well-worth goal.

[derator01]

Topic moved to The Farang Pub.