Thailand Religion

Theravada Buddhism may be the state religion in all but name—-the Thai Constitution requires that the reigning monarch be Buddhist, and any speech that insults Buddhism is strictly prohibited—but it is not officially designated as such in order to guarantee complete freedom of religion for all citizens. The government does sanction certain religious groups. Since 1984, though, the government has not recognized any new faiths, including the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. However, foreign missionaries may work and followers of other religions can worship in the country freely whether they’re registered with the government or not. Government-issued National Identity Cards began to include a religious designation in 1999 in the interest of providing an easier means of identifying individuals requiring a Muslim burial. This designation, however, is optional; card-holders can choose whether or not they would like to declare their faith.

Theravada Buddhism. As the religion of about 95% of the Thai people, Theravada (“the way of the elders”) Buddhism informs both faith and lifestyle. Buddhist spirituality is founded upon the Four Noble Truths: there is suffering; the source of suffering is desire; the absence of desire enables a cessation of suffering; and that cessation is achieved through an adherence to the Eightfold Path, which is a path of virtue, mental cultivation, and wisdom. Anti-materialism, forgiveness, and a vigorous spirit that has mastered tranquility are all characteristics of this highly scriptural religion. The Spirit of Free Enquiry is central to Buddhism: Buddha encouraged his followers to investigate his teaching for themselves instead of adhering to it blindly. This teaching inspires a high degree of tolerance for difference—racial, religious, or ethnic—and teaches kindness and compassion in the hope that individuals can live in harmony with the people, creatures, and the natural environment around them. In Thailand, Buddhist wats , or places of worship, play a central role in religious life, and the monks that inhabit them command great respect. Monks, too, are a common sight; their saffron robes, shaved heads, and gentle manner serve as a reminder of the search for inner peace that is the mainstay of Theravada Buddhism. It is an accepted male rite of passage to serve temporarily (usually about three months) in the monkhood. The goal of this religious service is increased maturity and spirituality in everyday life. In Thailand (unlike in Myanmar and Sri Lanka), the female Thervada Bhikkhuni (nun) lineage was never established and thus most Thais believe women have no place in monastic life. Still, there are the occasional exceptions, like the nuns of Dhammajarinee Wittaya in Chiang Mai.

Mahayana Buddhism. In the first century, a group of Buddhists viewed Theravada as too restrictive and ascetic. This group began to develop into its own school: Mahayana (“larger vehicle”). Mahayana teaches that it is impossible for individuals to achieve their own Nirvana. They believe that while removal from life experience is the ultimate object of enlightenment, they can only approach it. According to Mahayana Buddhism, Nirvana will only come when all of humankind is ready for salvation, and consequently prizes the relief of universal suffering. Although it is more popular today in other parts of Southeast Asia, Mahayana Buddhism is still practiced in Thailand, mainly by ethnic Chinese and Vietnamese immigrants. There is a particularly large ethnic Chinese community in Phuket that practices a combination of Mahayana Buddhism and Taoism.

Islam. Muslims constitute Thailand’s largest religious minority and account for 4.6% of the population. The vast majority are Sunni; only 1 or 2% of Thai Muslims are Shi’a. Most are concentrated close to the Malaysian border in southern Thailand—the south actually contains more mosques than wats —and many are originally of Malay descent. Though a minority, Muslims in Thailand are able to practice their religion freely. In the south, employers observe Muslim holidays and holy days, and all employees are given one month’s paid leave to travel to Mecca. In the wake of violent incidents in southern Thailand, the government has become more wary of possible separatist movements in that region (see Southern Discomfort).

Christianity. Christianity first emerged in Thailand in the 16th and 17th centuries, brought by missionaries of various Christian sects. Today, however, Thailand’s Christian population remains proportionally the smallest of any Asian nation at 0.05%, with almost half of that group resides in and around Chiang Mai. Roman Catholic enclaves can be found among the Vietnamese and Lao populations, while missionaries have focused their energies on several of the northern hill tribes.

Hinduism. Despite the fact that it constitutes such a small religious minority in Thailand, Hinduism plays a large role in Thai society. Pre-Buddhist Thailand adopted many religious, artistic, and political influences from the firmly Hindu Khmer Empire, and as a result, much of the ceremony surrounding the Thai king became infused with Hindu ritual. Far less than 1% of modern Thai are Hindu, most of whom are immigrants from India living in Bangkok, which has four major Hindu temples. Since mandatory religious instruction in schools is solely focused on Buddhism and Islam, the Hindu community keeps traditional subjects like Hindi and Sanskrit alive in its own school in Bangkok.

Animism. Animism is an ancient form of worship predating both Hinduism and Buddhism. Followers of Animism believe that natural objects and phenomena, such as mountains and storms, possess living spirits that are appeased only by offerings. Spirit houses, small shelters provided as a residence for local spirits, are ubiquitous in and around Thai homes . Although Animism is a very distinct practice from Thai Buddhism, its beliefs have been incorporated by the latter in the form of astrology and fortune-telling, the practice of which is extremely popular in Thai society. Today, most Animists are found among the northern hill tribes and the Chao Lay of the Andaman Sea.