Buddhism is extremely prevalent in Cambodia. Monks can be seen everywhere doing most of the things everyone else does, but they dress very differently, as you can see, and sometimes have matching orange umbrellas to shade them. Just as abundant are the shrines, and even more abundant are the spirit houses in front of nearly everyone’s house.
Cambodia places a tremendous emphasis on the family. The support structure is very different than in the U.S. Buddhist Cambodians place enormous pressure on their children (as do the Thai people – a major reason why the sex industry is so huge). Parents pay for their kids’ education and upbringing and expect them to return the favor after their studies. They must live in the same house with their parents, siblings, uncles, cousins, and grandparents.
If a child becomes a Christian, they are thrown out and rejected completely. If they decide to be a monk for a time, they are respected and adored.
I met a young girl at this church who regularly sneaks out to attend youth group and to learn about Christianity. She used to sneak out to attend church, but her uncle found out and beat her for it.
There are many other children doing the same thing, praying that they won’t get caught. They are held captive by the expectations of their parents.
