Muslims Christians and Mahayana Buddhists in Thailand
Muslims comprise Thailand's largest religious minority, and are concentrated mainly in the southernmost provinces of Narathiwat, Pattani, Yala and Satun. Islam is said to have been introduced to the Malay peninsula by Arab traders and adventurers during the 13th century. Most Thai Muslims are of Malay descent, reflecting the common cultural heritage Thailand's southernmost provinces share with Malays.
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Thai Muslims, 99 percent Sunni and 1 percent Shi'ite, enjoy H.M. the King's inspirational and financial support. His Majesty provided money for translating the Koran into Thai. The King or his representative presides during the annual celebrations commemorating the Prophet Muhammad's birthday. Additionally, His Majesty appoints a respected Muslim religious leader as Chularajamontri, or State Counsellor for all Islamic affairs. The government also pro-vides funds for building and renovating mosques.
Government-employed Muslims are allowed leave for important Muslim festivals, and allowed to work half-days on Friday, the Muslim holy day. In addition, one four months? leave with full salary is also granted to allow the employee to make the Haj, the pilgrimage to Mecca incumbent on all Muslims able to make the journey. In those provinces with large concentrations of Muslims, family and inheritance cases are judged according to Koranic law with a Muslim religious leader sitting on the bench.
There are approximately 2000 mosques in Thailand, about 100 of which are in Bangkok. Some 200 Muslim schools offer secular as well as religious instruction. All in all, Thailand's 1,325,587 (1970) Muslims enjoy full state support and are free to practise their religion according to their own tenets.
Christians
Christianity was introduced to Thailand in the 16th and 17th centuries by Portuguese and Spanish Dominican, Franciscan and Jesuit missionaries. During sub-sequent centuries other missionaries, including Protestants of the Presbyterian, Baptist and Seventh-Day Adventist sects arrived. Their converts mainly came from ethnic minorities such as the immigrant Chinese. Despite the small number of Thai converts, Christians have made several major contributions in the fields of health and education.
Many Thai schools and hospitals are Christian-affiliated. Thailand's first printing press was Christian-introduced and King Mongkut learned English and Latin from Christian missionaries. In an encounter
perhaps revealing the reason for the scarcity of Thai Christian converts, he reputedly told the missionaries, ?What you teach us to do is admirable, but what you teach us to believe is foolish.? Furthermore, Christians in-troduced Western surgery; made the first smallpox vaccinations; trained the first Thai doctors in Western medicine; and wrote the first Thai English dictionaries.
Thailand's total Christian population is estimated at 195,300 (1970).
Mahayana Buddhists
Mahayana Buddhists are found pri manly among Thailand's ethnic Chinese and Vietnamese. There are some 21 major Chinese monasteries and 25 meeting halls used for merit-making, Buddhist services and meditation. Chinese monks are easily distinguishable from Thai (Theravada) monks by their apparel : orange jackets and trousers . Strict vegetarians, they only eat food prepared in their monasteries. Unlike Theravada Buddhist monks, they are not required to be celibate. Their daily routine is concerned mainly with elaborate rituals and with preparation for the funerals and burials over which they preside.
Their Vietnamese counterparts are found in 13 major monasteries. Dressed like the Chinese Buddhists, the Vietnamese monks are not subject to special dietary regulations and make daily morning food collections.
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