| Thailand Guide Directories |
|
|
|
Christians in Thailand
 Christianity
was introduced to Thailand by European missionaries in the
16th and 17th centuries. These early Catholic missionaries
were later joined by Protestants of the Presbyterian, Baptist,and
Seventh-Day Adventist sects. 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.
Thailand's first printing press was introduced
by Christians, and King Mongkut (RamaIV) learned English and Latin from Christian
missionaries. Though King Mongkut reportedly told one of
his missionary friends "What you teach us to do is admirable,
but what you teach us to believe is foolish," during
his monkhood before ascending the throne, he nonetheless
allowed Christian missionaries to give lectures, even in
his own made the first smallpox vaccinations, trained the
first doctors in Western medicine, and wrote the first Thai-English
dictionaries.
- Special Legal Provisions in Support of Christainitys
in Thailand
A Christain has been professed in some local communities,
the following legal provisions have been made over the
course of this century in support of that religion:
Christian Communities
Since early times, the King has been
the Patron for both the Catholic in Thailand. Listed below
are the special legal provisions provided by the Thai
Monarchs in support of both denominations:
- . In the royal Proclamation of April 7,1904, an
area of land located at Sathorn Village, Bangkok and
measuring 2,000 sq. wah (2 acres) was presented by
King Rama V, or King Chulalongkorn, to the Protestant community
to be used for the construction of a public hall of
worship or other religious building, with the exception
of a cemetery. At the same time the request of the
Bangkok Protestant church committee to sell a piece
of land at a village to the south of Yannawa Monastery
formerly given by King Rama IV or King Mongkut was
granted.
- . The Legal Status of the Roman Catholic Church
in Thailand Act, 1909.
- . The Legal Status of the Roman Catholic Church
in Thailand (Amendment) Act, 1913.
- . The Royal Grant of Land to the Roman Catholic
mission in Thailand Act, 1914.
- . The Legal Status of the Roman Catholic Church
in Thailand (Amendment) Act, 1918.
- . The Legal Status of the Roman Catholic Church
in Thailand (Amendment) Act, 1923.
- . The Royal Decree for the Application of the Legal
Status of the Roman Catholic Church in Thailand Act,
1909, to the Apostolic Vicariate of Nongsaeng, 1929.
The total area of many pieces of land
in Bangkok and other provinces granted to the Roman Catholic
Church in Thailand stipulated by these Acts and Royal
Decree is 59,048 rai (23,619.20 acres).
The Department of Religious Affairs
will consult with the following organizations belonging
to the Catholic and Protestant Churches which have been
granted legal status in Thailand in respect of problems
concerning Catholic or Protestant communities in Thailand.
- . Bishop's Conference of Thailand
- . The Church of Christ in Thailand
- . The Evangelical Fellowship of Thailand
- . foreign Mission Board
- . Seventh Day Adventist Church of Thailand
|
|
