Thai Monks Want Buddhism in Constitution

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Washington Post/Associated Press

Thai Monks Want Buddhism in Constitution
The Associated Press
Tuesday, April 17, 2007; 10:33 AM


BANGKOK, Thailand -- Hundreds of monks called Tuesday for Buddhism to be named Thailand's national religion, a move rejected as too divisive in the past, as an Islamic insurgency worsened in the Muslim south.

More than 2,000 people have died since 2004 in the country's three southernmost provinces along the Malaysian border in an insurgency fueled by allegations of discrimination against Muslims, especially in educational and job opportunities, in Buddhist-dominated Thailand.

The call from the monks revives a debate that dates back to 1997 when a campaign to make Buddhism the national religion was dropped amid concerns that it would divide the country.

The issue has been revived as a new constitution is being drafted by a committee appointed by coup leaders who ousted elected Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in September. The coup leaders have promised to put a new constitution to voters in a referendum as early as September.



Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/17/AR2007041700640.html?hpid=sec-religion

[Blue_Tires]

1. I'm buddhist and i think this is a GREAT idea...

because government-sponsored religion has worked SO well historically!:nuke: :sarcasm:

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. Never a good idea to have an official state religion

it tends to be quite divisive, and also fossilizes the state religion so that it cannot evolve.

[mojo789]

3. Good idea

A limited theocracy will protect the population from Islamic
extremist insurgents as well as Marxist (atheist)militants.
Theocracies tend to work very well in preserving cultures, and
have an excellent track record. Europe had an unprecedented
expansion of civilization under Christian theocracies.
Islamic theocracies prevented the Soviet communist atheists
from taking the Middle East and it's oil in the 20th century. 
People forget that the US prosecuted anti Christian
blasphemers up until the end of the last century.

[Coventina]

5. Wow. Welcome to DU

Enjoy your stay.......

[Marnieworld]

7. C'mon

Seriously?

This is your first post? A pro-theocratic statement? Just for the hell of it, do you have a link to anything detailing the prosecution of "Anti-Christian Blasphemers" in an American court? I must have "forgotten".

Maybe since you're new you aren't aware of the ":sarcasm:" smiley we use.

[Blue_Tires]

8. the force is strong with this one nt

[GoddessOfGuinness]

12. May the Farce be with you.

[Alexander]

9. You associate communism with atheism and priase the Crusades.

"Europe had an unprecedented expansion of civilization under Christian theocracies."

Yeah, it's called the Crusades and the Inquisition, and due to the bloodthirsty theocracies, many innocent people died and were tortured.

In addition, you mention atheism in the same breath as communism and the Soviet Union.

Are you joking, or are we going to have to alert you?

[Arugula Latte]

15. Yeah -- extremist religious freaks have such a great track record, don't they?

Did you forget that the Founding Fathers were against theocracy?

Buh-bye. :hi:

[KitchenWitch]

16. You must be joking...

or you are a troll

Buhbye!

[mainegreen]

17. Well, this militant Athiest thinks your lies reveal you. n/t

[Critters2]

19. My faith tradition tried that once. It didn't work so well.

Having had that experience, we're pretty firmly against theocracies now. Indeed, the Executive Director of Americans United for the Separation of Church and State is an ordained minister in my denomination.

Honestly. Been there. Done that. Don't want to do it again.

[mallard]

20. Re: Americans United for the Separation of Church and State

Thailand lacks equality of social classes, where more Buddhist structures could potentially help.

Definitely needing basic legal rights for common citizens. Something needs positive change. It might be worth considering what it means.

Tend to agree with your politcal assumptions, otherwise.

[knight_of_the_star]

22. See ya

btw go brush up on your history while you're gone. You seem to be ignoring the intolerance, hate, bigotry, pain, and suffering not to mention intellectual and cultural stagnation caused by theocratic societies.

[Chemical Bill]

4. Can we do that here? n/t

[DixieBlue]

6. Doesn't that run counter to Buddhism itself?

[kineneb]

10. sure does

according to all that I have read.

[maxsolomon]

11. #1, buddhism is not a RELIGION

it is a-theistic, without a god.

it is a social movement to promote mindfulness & peace.

they sound like the buddhist monks in sri lanka.

WWBD?

[Mr. Sinister]

14. depends on your definition of religion

I spend a lot of time with Thai forest monks
and they definitely consider themselves part
of a religion in the traditional sense. What
they don't consider themselves to be is
crusaders or proselityzers. It is antithetical
to their beliefs and traditions. But Buddhists
are human beings too -- capable of profound
contradictions and old-fashioned hypocrisy.

[maxsolomon]

18. sometimes i wish i, too, could say:

"i spend a lot of time with Thai forest monks". you live in a forest in thailand?

personally, i get to spend a lot of time with American urban monk(eys) of the homo sapiens species.

anyway, i hear what you're saying. however, my shrink insists it's not a religion. buddha is not a god who is worshipped.

[Coventina]

21. Buddha made it clear that he was not God, but a fellow-traveler

However, later Buddhist sects enlarged upon the original tradition, and there are Buddhists (like Pure-Land Buddhists) who practice Buddhism as a full-fledged religion with the worship of Buddha(s) as god(s).

But you are correct, you can be a practicing Buddhist and adhere to another religion or no religion at all.

The Japanese are a good example, their indigenous religion of Shinto and Buddhism are practiced side-by-side. Many Japanese have Shinto weddings and Buddhist funerals, for instance.

[Mr. Sinister]

23. No I live in wicked pagan San Francisco...

:-)

But there is a monastery in the Thai Forest tradition 2 hours north near Ukiah.
There are actually many monasteries of various Buddhist traditions dotting the
American landscape. Through the miracle of the Google they're fairly easy to sniff
out.

It's true that Buddhism does not posit a Supreme God (although the mythology
contains other religion's gods as sort of confused egotists). But in its place it
has a Supreme Truth (Dharma). All religions at their core promise the transformation
of the human heart and an end to suffering, some just drift farther than others.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

13. I hope it's rejected again...

because it IS divisive.