NLA organizes seminar on role of religion

[rooster59]

NLA organizes seminar on role of religion

BANGKOK, 13 December 2015 (NNT) –The National Legislative Assembly’s Committee on Religion, Arts, Culture and Tourism held a seminar on the roles of religions in support of the royal institution, in a bid to aid the country’s reform and support national stability.

NLA President Pornpetch Wichitcholchai along with Pol. Gen. Pichit Kuandechakup chairman of the NLA committee on religions, arts, culture and tourism, presideded over the opening of the seminar. The event, titled “The Role of Religions in Supporting the Institution of the Monarchy”, was joined by leaders of 5 religions including Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, Brahm-Hindi and Sikh. Members of each religion gathered to express their opinions.

NLA Committee on Religion Vice Chairman Somporn Thepsitthar, who is also the leader of Buddhist representatives, stated that despite diversity in Thailand’s culture and religions, His Majesty the King is loved by all and is able to unite Thai people of different backgrounds. Mr. Somporn said he believes that all religions have principles that aim to teach disciples to do good, but the problem is how to make them understand and practice the teachings of their religion. Therefore, the strengthening of religious institutions together with the institution of the monarchy will move the country forward.

-- NNT 2015-12-13

[mrrizzla]

no comment.

[phoenixdoglover]

Nice title for the event. I'm assuming everyone was most agreeable.

[Bluespunk]

"I believe in God, but not as one thing, not as an old man in the sky. I believe that what people call God is something in all of us. I believe that what Jesus and Mohammed and Buddha and all the rest said was right. It's just that the translations have gone wrong.”

― John Lennon

[trainman]

"The Role of Religions in Supporting the Institution of the Monarchy"

What role is that then?

Sadly, the article doesn't tell us.

[JAG]

Is the role of religion in Thailand to be supporting the institution, or worshiping the appropriate deity?

The Gospel of St John, Chapter 18, Verses 36: and 37 - and before you rush to accuse this taig of being a bible basher, I had to look it up!

[seajae]

as far as I can see the role of religion in Thailand is to make the head man very rich, have lots of cars, helicopters, mobile phones, expensive items and to do what ever they like and not have to answer to anyone. Being religious in any form and following the teachings has been thrown out years ago

[bangrak]

"The Role of Religions in Supporting the Institution of the Monarchy"

What role is that then?

Sadly, the article doesn't tell us.

It is very hard for me to understand, in the 21st century we live in after all, which kind of role any religion should have in supporting any Monarchic Institution in the world.

Also, I am not sure at all this fits anywhere in the, very modern, interpretation of a Constitutional Monarchy His Majesty the King Rama IX has introduced and lives strictly in accordance with the principles of.

To me this sounds more like another initiative in line with recent attempts to bring back to life some 'old time' principles one would rather associate with the middle ages, started by a group of people seemingly more interested in their own future than motivated by serving the Thai Monarchy, at least in the present form of the Reverred Institution closely linked to the person of His Majesty the King Rama IX.

[dominique355]

A Police General in charge of religion art culture and tourism? Dear God!

And where were the atheists?

[Srikcir]

Uniting muslim Malay-Thais under a Buddhist Head of State is simple - it's the law.

[Lee4Life]

"the problem is how to make them understand and practice the teachings of their religion".....what exactly does that mean? How do you "make" someone understand and practice the teachings of their own religion?

[Caveat Emptor]

"the problem is how to make them understand and practice the teachings of their religion".....what exactly does that mean? How do you "make" someone understand and practice the teachings of their own religion?

Like so many I gave up on religion, for me as a teenager. I see religion or not as a very personal decision so what's the government getting involved for ?

More control ? More having things they way they were and how they want them to be ?

[oneday]

Religion has no business in government and visa versa. The founding fathers of the US figured this out over 200 years ago and it was by far one of the best decisions they made.

[oxo1947]

It is very hard for me to understand, in the 21st century we live in after all, which kind of role any religion should have in supporting any Monarchic Institution in the world---bangrak

Why is that difficult to understand----the established Religions have always supported the state. In the war you had the Christian churches of Germany supporting their state---the Churches of Britain giving prayers to the young people before they were sent off. The fact that these religions were the same before the war--didn't make any difference, they supported the state as they usually do.

In 1939 over 1 third of Germans were Catholic--- Catholics fought on both sides in the Second World War. Hitler’s invasion of predominantly Catholic Poland ignited the conflict in 1939 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church_and_Nazi_Germany

The Russian othodox church supports the state in Russia----The British & Americans fighting against each other in their revolution (independence war) were both supported by the same religion---there has always been a place for the Church --that place has been to support the state, sure they can take a stand on minor issues & speak out.

I do not know why the surprise about the Thai religion doing just what yours has for many years.

[bangrak]

It is very hard for me to understand, in the 21st century we live in after all, which kind of role any religion should have in supporting any Monarchic Institution in the world---bangrak

Why is that difficult to understand----the established Religions have always supported the state. In the war you had the Christian churches of Germany supporting their state---the Churches of Britain giving prayers to the young people before they were sent off. The fact that these religions were the same before the war--didn't make any difference, they supported the state as they usually do.

In 1939 over 1 third of Germans were Catholic--- Catholics fought on both sides in the Second World War. Hitler’s invasion of predominantly Catholic Poland ignited the conflict in 1939 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church_and_Nazi_Germany

The Russian othodox church supports the state in Russia----The British & Americans fighting against each other in their revolution (independence war) were both supported by the same religion---there has always been a place for the Church --that place has been to support the state, sure they can take a stand on minor issues & speak out.

I do not know why the surprise about the Thai religion doing just what yours has for many years.

Stupid me, I thought maybe this 21st century could bring religions (back) to their true and only place: in the minds and hearts of the individuals who have knowingly(!) and freely(!) chosen to adhere to its beliefs and follow its principles (and only for as long as they want to go on doing so)...

I didn't want to start listing a part of the far too many massacres, horrors and perversions linked with or even created by religions History is full of.

I wanted to say, and here repeat: religions should not accept to, or be allowed to, be in any way associated to temporal 'worldly' powers of any kind!

[tominbkk]

The Buddhism I practice is not a religion. Not sure what they are practicing here.