Key features of Thai Spirituality and how this interfaces with Christian Spirituality.

1. BANGKOK, THAILANDURBAN SPIRITUALITY
Indigenous Spirituality

2. CHRISTY JOHNSON
Spiritual Morality & Thai
Buddhism
BANGKOK, THAILAND
The art of being good enough

3. Five Precepts of Buddhism
‣Refrain from killing any
living thing
‣Refrain from stealing
‣Refrain from lying,
slandering, gossiping,
and spreading rumors
‣Refrain from sexual
misconduct
‣Refrain from taking
intoxicants

4. Morality is Relative
‣Spirituality is a balancing act—it doesn’t matter what
you do wrong as long as you’ve done more good than
bad
‣Big sins
‣Drinking and making merit
‣Get-out-of-debt Monkhood
‣The End Justifies the Means
‣“She’s like Buddha”
‣A man beyond hope
“But all religions teach us to be
good.” ~ every Thai Buddhist I’ve
ever met

5. Karma Theology
‣Can’t erase the bad you’ve done
‣But you can try to tip the scales by doing good
‣Due to reincarnation, your cumulative Karma determines your current life
situation
‣You deserve what you get
‣You’re poor or sick because you did
something wrong
‣Constant comparison of deeds, appearances
‣The labels you earn as a kid stick around
for the rest of your life

6. Grace vs. Merit-
making
‣Coming from Karma spirituality, grace is the hardest concept for a
Thai Buddhist to understand. When they truly understand what grace
is, it’s one of the most appealing characteristics of God
‣“You mean it’s free? I’m too poor to be a good buddhist.” – P. Yut (1st believer in
Photong)
‣Karma theology can easily turn into “Genie Spirituality”
‣Jesus replaces one of their idols, a genie for instant gratification and spiritual
protection.
‣Without a foundation of grace and a theology of suffering, new believers fall
away when “Idol Jesus” doesn’t obey every wish (ex. healing doesn’t happen or
they don’t get rich)
“Jesus offers forgiveness of sins, just like that?
Sounds too easy. It can’t work if it’s that easy.” – A
neighbor

7. Important Discipleship Elements
‣God as creator: God has authority over what He has created
‣Loving and discipling: a good father doesn’t give into every desire and
wish
‣God as King: we cannot order a King, we are His servants; we should
respect and adore Him
‣Forgiveness isn’t a license to sin
‣Freedom from sin gives us joy in sharing the love we have received.
‣Christians don’t just help themselves by making merit through good deeds,
but rather as Christ has helped make us good, we can joyfully share with
others.
‣“You cannot serve both God and money.”
‣The “holy” in Holy Spirit is crucial

8. ELENA FORSYTHE
Overview From A Pair of Fresh
Eyes
BANGKOK, THAILAND

9. Everyday
religion
‣Spirit houses and idle idols
‣Making merit, pleasing and
appeasing
‣Outward appearances
‣Showing reverence in-passing

10. Strongly
Reactive
‣Constant, ever-present aspect of daily life
‣Power and fear worldview
‣Work for what you can do, pray for what you
can’t

11. H. MICHELLE KAO
Interactions With Spirits
BANGKOK, THAILAND

12. What spirits do
people interact
with?
‣Territorial spirits
‣spirit houses
‣spirits residing in things
‣Foreign gods adopted
‣Erawan shrine
‣Things worthy of respect
‣Houseplants

13. Why do people
worship?
‣Appease spirits to prevent
negative occurences
‣Health, economic trouble
‣Garner favor and outside
help
‣Gain power
‣Gain wealth or success

14. How do people
interact with
spirits?
‣Making offerings
‣Pay respect (bowing, laying out food)
‣Occasional (Holidays, Extra support)
‣Pledging yourself
‣Tattooing
‣Allowing the spirit to enter you
‣Avoidance

15. Cultural Effects
‣Entertainment and Media
‣Disciplinary Tool
‣Two-facets (nicknaming,
saying what you don’t
mean)
‣Underlying fear

16. Spirit Realm Summary
‣Mainly disconnected
from Buddhism
‣Appeasing, capricious,
emotional beings
‣Hierarchical power and
respect structure; sponsor
relationship
‣Bargaining relationship,
not absolute.
‣Present reality that
should be manipulated for
independence and
personal welfare

17. Indigenous Spirituality &
Economics
KEVIN WALTON BANGKOK, THAILAND

18. Buddhist Rituals
for Blessing a
Business

19. Accessories for Good
Luck

20. “Lucky Charms” &
Superstitions

21. Patron gods of
Mercy & Good
Fortune

22. Buddhist-background
Believers“Same same, but different”
Supernaturally
delicious
Dedicating business to
Jesus