A little history first, Thailand emerged as a powerful kingdom in the 14th century. It had several centuries where the kingdom prospered until the 19th century when the French and the British started taking territory. The Japanese then occupied Thailand during WWII. During the Vietnam War Thailand supported the United States in its efforts but post war experienced a large influx of refugees from Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. Today the population resides around 65 million and Bangkok is the capital.
Some culture cues that are common in Thailand are as follows. The head is considered the most honorable part of the body. Therefore it’s a great insult to touch or reach over a person’s head. The foot on the other hand is considered dirty and one should never point or step over someone with their foot. Buddhism is the national religion in Thailand. All items related to Buddhism are considered sacred and should be given respect. Thailand does have monks and they are forbidden to touch or be touched by women. In addition to Buddhism many also worship spirits and have spirit houses in or around their homes or businesses. There is an established monarchy in Thailand and the Royal Family is very important to the Thai people. It is always suggested that you show respect to the king and never speak badly about him because it could result in your deportation. The Thai people have a concept of “Face”, which is the equivalent to keeping one’s self-respect and dignity intact. This is a very important concept in most of Asia. These are just a few things to remember in Thailand. I have really enjoyed trying to keep up with the different cultural norms and have found it challenging.
As far as Christianity in Thailand the Portuguese were the first to bring Christianity in 1518. In fact the Thai king gave a large donation to build the first Roman Catholic Church in the country. English traders became aware of the strategic location of Thailand for East Indies trading and started building factories and ports. After several years of taking advantage of Thailand all westerners were expelled from the country. In 1780 French missionaries where allowed back into the country. In the early part of the 19th century it was estimated there were 1,000 Christians in Thailand. Protestant missionaries arrived in 1828 and American missionaries in 1833. They brought with them modern scientific knowledge and western medicine. King Mongkut learned English from the American missionaries who he considered friends. They taught him about Christianity but he could not accept Divine Revelation or Redemption of Sin. He is quoted as saying, “What you teach them to do is admirable, but what you teach them to believe is foolish.” The king saw no harm in Christianity so it was allowed to continue to be practiced. Christian growth continued in the country until WWII when declines took place. With the close of the Vietnam War there was a large influx of western missionaries and significant growth has taken place since.
Personally I have grown to love Thailand. Many of you know I love to eat and this is by far has some of the best food I have experienced. You can get a great meal for around a dollar almost anywhere including major cities. There are many guesthouses that you can stay in for less than $10 a night. The mountains and countryside here are beyond words and I feel like my photography efforts can’t convey the beauty. The people are exceptional and I have come to love the Karen people who are a tribe that live inside of Thai borders; I will write a follow-up blog on this persecuted people group in the future.
