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Those Nutty Missionaries
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If you’ve spent a lot of time in Thailand you’ve probably seen Christian missionaries and some of their converts. If you stay in Thailand long enough and learn to speak and read the Thai language, missionary activity will become much more obvious. There are thousands of Christian missionaries in Thailand (most of which are American), and that isn’t including the many Thai’s that have been converted (brainwashed) and who also try to convert other Thais.
Just to clear the air, I’m not Buddhist. Most religion (especially fundamentalism) prevents progress and saps people of the ability to think for themselves. That said, Thai people are much better sticking to their own non-fundamentalist, non-absolutist religion (Buddhism), instead of converting to be born-again Christians who believe only Christians will be saved. Missionaries aren’t “bad” people but their belief in foolish ideology, and their need to aggressively spread it, often leads to trouble. Missionaries and their belief that all non-Christians will go to hell, and other similar dogma, ought to be exposed and challenged at every opportunity because a Thailand full of militant Christians would not be a positive development, to say the least.
I posted two essays about missionaries (titled “Missionaries Go Home”) on Stickman Bangkok, but I can’t provide the links because I don’t know where they are on the Stickman site. They were posted about nine months ago and one a year ago.
In this submission I’ve provided more recent and ongoing examples of what missionaries and their converts have been up to. I’m not going to refute Christianity here. If you want to read a really good book that does that, read “The God Delusion” by Richard Dawkins, or “The End of Faith” by Sam Harris (both are available at Kunokinaya Books).
If you don’t have the time or interest to read the rest of this, skip to the end to read some of the bizarre quotes sent to me by born-again Christians. If nothing else, you might find them humorous (or alarming).
1) Pamphlet Pushers
If you spend much time at any of Bangkok parks, inevitably you will see foreign and/or Thai missionaries approaching complete strangers to preach to them about Jesus. They approach Thai people, without invitation, and give their sales pitch about Jesus and “salvation”. Thai people will politely listen, smile, and nod even though they usually have no interest in being lectured about Christianity and Jesus (though someone told about a Thai man who chewed out a missionary for speaking badly about his “heathen” amulet. Good riddance!).
Recently, in Benchasiri Park next to the Emporium, I watched two Mormons (I come across Mormons regularly in this park) preaching to two Thai women, who listened politely and smiled. Thirty minutes later, when the Mormons finally left, the Thai woman started laughing and referred to the Mormons as “baa” (crazy) and “lang samoong” (brainwashed) as they tossed the glossy pamphlets they were given into the rubbish bin. Nonetheless, any aggressive and well-funded religious marketing campaign is bound to pick up some new customers (converts), and these converts often become aggressive missionaries themselves. I’ve come across missionaries in parks, on streets, on university campuses, in Thai language classes, and in markets (such as Jatuchak).
2) Jesus Signs
Throughout Thailand, missionaries have posted thousands of yellow, metal signs in Thai script that read “Pray Jesus to erase your sins” or a similar slogan (see pictures below). These signs are bolted high up into trees all throughout the countryside, particularly in the northern provinces, but I’ve also seen them in Bangkok and Chonburi.
Sometimes these signs are posted directly across from Buddhist temples, which shows that these people have no respect or boundaries. I doubt they’ll get any converts by posting these silly signs, but it shows how fanatic they must be to spend all of that time, money and effort to climb trees and post thousands of these signs throughout the country.
Perhaps you’ve seen a large hotel on the Chonburi Expressway just outside of Bangkok with a big red crucifix and “Jesus Loves You” plastered on the side of the building. What kind of nut defaces the whole side of his hotel with Christian slogans?
3) The “Turn or Burn” Missionaries
Every year around Christmas, a group of mainly Thai missionaries converge at Silom Road and Petchaburi Road (next to Panthip Plaza) in Bangkok with a full set of gear including a sound system, big Jesus signs in Thai script and many boxes full of Christian pamphlets (see picture above). One guy stands like a mannequin under the BTS station at Silom Road standing next to a Jesus sign and a sound system that booms out loud doomsday messages in Thai. The rest of the missionaries stand on nearby street corners pushing Jesus booklets into the hands of all who walk by. These books warn about the end of the world and have illustrations of sinners and non-Christians burning in hell. How is that for a loving and forgiving God?
4) Sneaky Missionaries on Campus
Another front the missionaries are entrenched is on university campuses where they put a lot of effort into converting young, impressionable university students. Last semester, I saw three separate missionaries groups at my university in the northeast of Bangkok.
Within my first month of working at this university, I saw adverts, in English and Thai, posted in several lecture halls offering “Free English Lessons” with a group of “American University Students”. Right away, I knew they had to be missionaries. Missionaries aren’t always up-front and honest about their objectives, as in this case there was no mention of Jesus, church or religion in their advertisement.
I confronted this group of Americans, and sure enough, they admitted that they were part of a “church group” in Thailand, but they insisted they weren’t missionaries.
“If you aren’t missionaries, then why are you here,” I asked, “What qualifications do you have to teach English to university students?” They said that they just wanted to help them with their English. They admitted that they do “invite” them to church and then they invite them to travel upcountry with their “church group”.
One of the missionaries (who insisted he wasn’t a missionary) said, “We don’t force anyone to convert.” But they obviously have no problem being dishonest, luring people to church by offering free English lessons.
I warned my class about these American University students and I suggested that they be watchful about any groups of foreigners that offer things for free and try to become friends. They should ask them straight away if they are from some “church group”.
5) Korean Camp or Moony Cult?
One of my students told me about a Korean group that was doing something similar, though on a much larger scale. These well-funded Korean missionaries, from the “International Youth Fellowship” are especially dishonest. This is what they do.
- They go to the university canteen, set up a table and a sound system and then have good-looking Koreans sing songs from famous Korean pop stars (Korean pop stars and soap operas are enormously popular amongst Thai teen-agers).
- Then they invite students to go on a three-day camping trip in the countryside, where they can learn the Korean language, sing Korean pop songs, and play games with these good-looking Koreans. Religion isn’t mentioned as part of the festivities.
- Once they get to the camp, they are all given Bibles and lectured about Christianity (once again, the students aren’t told beforehand that the camp has anything to do with religion). Several times throughout the day they have to read the Bible and listen to sermons. In-between the sermons, they spend only about an hour learning the Korean language.
- Later, the organizers encourage Thai students to go on a stage with a microphone and “witness” (verbally accept Jesus as their savior and commit their life to “Him”). This is a common method with born-again Christians. They try to get a few brainwashed converts to “witness” in front of the group in the hope that others will follow (like sheep).
Why did these missionaries lie about the religious aspect of the camp? It is quite clear. If they are honest and advertise that it’s a religious camp with the intention of converting Buddhists, nobody will go. By advertising the festivities as a fun-filled “Korean Camp” (without mentioning religion), they can get hundreds of people to attend.
6) Quotes From Missionaries
Since the first two essays were posted, I’ve received many emails from readers. Most emails were positive, however I did receive a few emails from missionaries and other born-again Christians (I’m very surprised that missionaries visit the Stickman site). Below are some of the more memorable quotes sent to me (names have been omitted). My email address is posted at the end, so please contact me with any questions and comments.
“…I must share the gospel to non-believers anywhere I come across them. If that is considered disrespectful to other people, I’d rather offend those other people then offend God…”
“…there can only be one truth, either you are wrong or I’m wrong…if you are wrong, which you are, and if you don’t accept Jesus…than eternal damnation will sadly be the outcome…the choice is yours.”
“…Buddhism is just another branch of Satanism…the only way to salvation is through Jesus Christ.”
The next quotes are from a street preacher that can often be seen preaching (shouting) very loudly in English and Thai at different tourist locations and places full of “sin” around Bangkok. Notice how he uses lower-case letters when referring to other religions.
“…This is a fact: there is no salvation in Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, or any other religion in the world as salvation is found only Christ Jesus the Lord. For only Jesus Christ died for our sins, and only Jesus Christ rose from the dead…”
“…The Lord Jesus Christ the Son of God gave himself for us to pay the price for our sins so that we could be saved. But if you reject this gift, then you will have to pay for your sins in hell. God is just: sin must be punished…”
The remarks below about Buddhism are slanderous and quite bitter.
“…I practiced magick which is allowed in Theravada sect Buddhism. Theravada Buddhism practices witchcraft and black magick… the “Rama-Yana” is full of magick…”
“…Buddhism teaches that Buddha was birthed by a white elephant going inside his mother…”
“… my mother, she is completely healed and is no longer a Buddhist.”
This last quote is unintentionally hilarious.
“…Before I was a Christian, I had many Thai girlfriends; and they all used magick to help them get an edge on life…”
The author can be contacted at ceno99@gmail.com
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8 responses so far
September 9th, 2007 at 9:02 am
I appreciate some reaction to how some Christian missionaries brainwash, criticize, and condemn non-Christians. These missionaries need to study more about Sociology/Ethics 101 so they would learn to respect other people’s opinion. It must be their inability to understand other culture and beliefs and the way they communicate that make them offensive. I hope these people will learn the darn lesson that the world is not theirs alone.
September 9th, 2007 at 1:32 pm
I wonder if many of those missionaries and scholars who have got Ph.D. degrees (e.g. William Foxwell Albright has been known having about 30 doctoral degrees in archeology, philology, Near Eastern studies, linguistics, etc.) are narrow-minded and fanatic. Is possible that Christianity doesn’t have enough scientific or sound basis of its doctrines?
September 9th, 2007 at 4:39 pm
I find them to be very assertive and in your face. Walking past any of the nightlife areas on a busy night and you will see at least 1 yelling about how God is great and everyone is going to burn in hell. They shouldn’t be forcing their beliefs on people.
September 10th, 2007 at 7:48 am
They also are pushing a religion with very little interest to the Thai people.
June 2nd, 2008 at 11:50 pm
How can anybody be so racist to go into somebody else’s country and tell them their religion is false, and only jesus saves? How different are they from the muslim terrorists who bomb people because they dont follow islam? Christains brainwash No difference. Personally, I just sock the christains in the jaw, and the muslims I prefer killing them.
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:58 pm
I went to a Buddhist temple with a Thai friend and lit some incense and afterwards she asked me if I was a Christian. I told her I was (actually I’m Catholic but didn’t feel explaining the difference would be of much help) and she asked how I could possibly pay honor to Buddha. She told me that her other Christian friends refuse to go anywhere near a temple ceremony. I told her it was because I was confident enough in what I believe in that I could respect Buddha and what he stood for without worshiping him.
June 3rd, 2008 at 11:21 pm
I wonder why Christians even have to justify going to a temple. I don’t know any Buddhist that would have any qualms about entering a church. Going into a church wouldn’t be disrespecting the Buddha or Buddhism. But so many Christians thing that even entering a temple would be “Worshipping False Idols”.
Billy Bangkok (post above) has the right idea. Unfortunately the missionaries and radical born-again Christians are spreading their views of intolerance. Not only won’t they enter a temple, they want to prevent Buddhists from going to the temple to, by converting them and teaching them that the founder of their religion is just another “False Idol”.
November 22nd, 2008 at 5:48 pm
Being a Quaker-Christian, I really need to say, I am ashamed about what Christian Missionaries do here in Thailand - no matter wether they are foreign or Thai.
I do not stay in Bangkok but in the largest town in the Northeast of Thailand. I know the Protestant Christian Seminary here and their methods.
1. Students, mostly Issan or Lao or Hmong and poor must pay fees for a five-year curriculum. Fees are between 8.000 and 15.000 Baht. 4th year means internship in a church.
2. Their bedrooms do miss every standard. They live 3 or 4 in one room with ironbeds, but no locker or something like that. A lot of things get stolen, mostly money and mobile phones. The bathrooms, that they have to share, lacks a standard-working water system. Their are 4 showers (that mostly do not work due to the poor water system!) for 40 students in one floor. No washing machine or anything like that. It is forbidden to wash clothes in Sundays. It is also forbidden to play music on Sundays.
3. Food is never enough. Once a time during the term, their Thai and foreign teachers teach them not to eat to worship God. They then will not eat breakfast and lunch and only get boiled Rice Soup for dinner. This for a day long. During a week, there are about two or three days they only get boiled rice soup for breakfast. Lunch and Dinner never is enough, so these already poor students must go to eat additionally outside that seminary.
4. They must attend chapel every morning from Tuesday to Friday. Than the study different subjects during morning, have one hour break and study in the afternoon. 4 p. m. they have to do cleaning work inside and outside the buildings for at least thirty minutes. Then, there is sport or music activity. 6 p. m. is dinner and 7 p. m. Homework time till 10 p. m. Then, they are expected to turn off the light.
5. Students there will be used for every stupid work. Beside that, the Seminary has a caretaker and cleaning personal and one cook. One cook for about 100 people there to feed! Male students must be watchman during the night. I do not know if they get paid for that or not. Sometimes, the teachers and the other staff order the students to clean their houses as well. But mostly, the students get paid for that work.
6. The students get brainwashed there. Some of them start disliking Buddhists. They sometimes pray til midnight. Even sleeping in the praying rooms or in front of them during night. They just stay in their Christian community lacking Buddhist friends. Most families send their children to Christian schools or wish so. They do not want the kids being influenced from Buddhists. It is a community locking their doors.
To summarize. This seminary is a true lie. Because.
1. The teachers and preachers tell the students they should live like poor people - like Jesus said. But the teachers by themselves have everything - Mobile phone, car, computers, notebooks, washing machine, cooker, juweles, own houses (3.000.000 Baht)and hundred of clothes (especially the foreign teachers). The students have to iron the clothes. This is the first lie.
2. They get taught that everybody is equal in front of God. But I have never seen a teacher cleaning a student toilet or bathroom. Beside that, teachers do have washing machines and such things, students are not expected to do so. Foreign teachers get double and more salary of that what Thais do get. The Thai cook, caretaker and cleaning personal get 5000 Baht per months. This is equality. And this is the second lie.
…
There would be much more to say. But I am afraid, this will be too long. Lets have a short talk about the churches.
I can tell you, here is no church I can go. Of course, there is no Quaker Community. I think, it is not neccessary for me, too. for me, I do no mission at all for I respect Buddhist religion. I even went to a temple to practise meditation for I think, that meditation is something everybody can do no matter what religion.
I sometimes went to a Thai protestant church, but always felt (and still feel) very uncomfortable with this institutions. I know Thai, so it is not neccessary for me to go to a church preaching in English. There are some reasons I feel uncomfortable with Christianity in Thailand.
1. Most of the preachers in this church, (Thais) preach extemly aggressive and loud. They always critizise Buddhists and unfaithful people telling you these people are bad and untrustful.
2. Asking them to speak clearly and repeat the song numbers, so that I would be able to find the song that they will be singing, it hardly happened that someone was taking care of my handycap. This is the way, Thai Christians taking care for their fellows. (Even though I am Quaker, but okay).
3. Preaching and worship style is quite american, loud music, always microphone, no need to dress accordingly. Even the preacher does not. There are a lot of brainwashing methods like praying loudly, touching others and always using emotions. It looks very uncivilized. Corean missionaries are extremly aggressive, so that their Buddhist neighbours cannot sleep during the night. They worship God till midnight with loud music, preaching and crying. Swedish missionaries once had a mission session in front of a Thai temple. They came to heal handicapped people. The Thais took my arms and pushed and pulled me to the stairs becaus of my handicap. I could not defend myself, but told them that I do not want to go there. Luckily, I did not need to go on the stairs. All the broken, the handicapped or the ill stand in a line and the missionaries came in front of them to heal them with their hands. Then, the Swedish and American missionaries took oil, laid their hands on my … and prayed loudly. Than, they asked me if I could … do better. I said no. They prayed again. Again they asked me and my answer was negative. So one said, I do not believe enough in God, the other said, Welll, sometimes God will not come to everybody to heal. And so on. They were unsuccessful with me, so they let me go. But another handicapped fellow had not enough luck. He was an old Thai man, leg-handicapped and could not walk. The missionaries did the same with this man. He could go a little. Because of their success, they pulled this old man in the stairs and showing the public that they are really able to cure handicaps and illness. After the show, this old man did collapse behind the stairs. The missionaries saw and just said like. Do not stop believe in Jesus and God. Then, you will be able to walk again. No help to carry him, no help to bring him to a hospital … This was one of the most disrespecting Christian shows I have ever seen in my life.
4. When being in church on Sundays, I do not take part in the rituals like eating bread and drinking wine because Quakers do not do all of these kinds of rituals. If other Christians see me doing this, they stare at me with a look telling me I am not a pure Christian or even gossip with each other that Farang is not a good Christian.
5. I cannot tell many Thai and foreign Christians that I am Quaker. Thais do not know what it means, and these foreign Christians somewho accept but do not think it is adequate to be a real good Protestant Christian. (IN my country there is not such a problem).
Please note, that their are a lot of differences between European and American Quakers as well.
I think, I will better stop now. Just want to share my experiences and apologize for any mistake in English, for my mother language is a European language, but not English.