Thailand's+Religion

Joanna, Ashara, Lily

Religion plays a very important role in a Thai's life. Although Theravada or HInayana Buddhism is the national religion of Thailand but there is a right of freedom of religion and beliefs. All major religion can be found in practise. The majority of the population is Buddhist of 94%. Of the remaining 6% of the population which, 3.9% are Muslim, 1,9% Confucianists, and 0.06% Chritians (mostly hill - tribe living in the north).The KIng of Thailand is Buddhist but he accepts all religions and beliefs.

Buddhism Studies show that Buddhism first appeared in Thailand around 300 B.C. During that time many ethinic group migrated to Thailand and adpoted this religion. Buddism has greatly influenced the architecture, literature and sculpture of Thailand.

Siddhārtha Gautama is the spirtual teacher who found buddhsim. His father was King Suddhodana and his mother is Queen Maha Maya.On the fith day of after his birth, the king invited 8 scholars to read his future.Siddhārtha Gautama was for told to be a great king or a great holly man. In order to make Siddhārtha Gautama a great king, his father forbid his son from being religious. By the age of 29 dispite his father effots to hide him from sick, aging and suffering, Siddhārtha Gautama saw an old amn and his charioteer explained that all people aged. He ventured further and saw a diseased man, a decaying corpse and an ascetic. Siddhārtha Gautama left his palace life and practice under 2 hermit teachers. As he succeed even past his teachers he was still not satisfied. After reallizing that meditation was the right path to enlightenment he meditated for 49 days uder a pipal tree. At this time he is believe to have an insight on suffering and steps to stop it. The Buddha then spent the next 45 years of his life teacher people on what he had learned forming Buddhism.

Muslims 3.9% of Thailand's population are Muslims, with 200 Muslim schools and approxiamtely 2000 Muslim mosques in Thailand. Islamic in Thailand is quickly growing, with statistics suggesting a population of anywhere from 2.2 million to 7.4 million. Most Thai Muslims belong to the Sunni sect.



Buddhists eating.They also pray before eating to thank gods, like many other cultures.



One of the Muslim mosques in Thailand.