Religion in Thailand vs. Cambodia

Thailand and Cambodia are very similar when it comes to which religions are followed. The primary religion followed in both countries is Buddhism. However, both countries incorporate Buddhism and other religions in slightly different ways.

In Thailand, the top three most prevalent religions are Buddhism, Islam, and Christianity. Thailand has the second-largest population of Buddhist followers, with China being the first. The main school of Buddhism followed in Thailand is Theravada Buddhism. The second most-followed religion in Thailand is Islam. Islam in Thailand is said to have been spread to the Malay Peninsula by Arab traders in the 13 th century. Muslims in Thailand receive state support, and government-employed Muslims are allowed to leave work for important religious festivals. Islam is mostly found in the southern provinces such as Narathiwat, Yala, and Pattani. Another popular religion in Thailand is Christianity. In 1518, Portuguese missionaries attempted to bring Christianity to Thailand. When they arrived, the Thai king supported them and helped provide them with funds to build churches. The government allows these different religions to exist in harmony and gives the people in Thailand the freedom to worship whatever and whomever they chose.

Ninety-five percent of Cambodia’s population is Buddhist. More specifically, most Cambodians observe Theravada Buddhism. Buddhism is the state religion of Cambodia. However, before Buddhism, one of the most-followed religions in this area was Hinduism. In Cambodia, men are expected to become monks for some time. This is viewed as an honor for men to spend their time as monks, where they learn many life lessons and become respected by their community. An aspect of Buddhism in Cambodia that the monks must learn is that nothing is permanent, so one should not become attached to materialistic things. For example, a person should not care too much about how their hair looks, because eventually it will become old and frail. The number of Buddhist followers in Cambodia today appears to be increasing.

Both Thailand and Cambodia primarily follow Theravada Buddhism. Both countries believe in the Buddha and the teachings of Buddhism. However, Thailand has a larger population of people who are monks. Both countries have an overwhelming number of Buddhist followers, and interestingly, in both countries, the second and third most-followed religions are Islam and Christianity. This is because in the past these countries have been in contact with each other through trading, and other important interactions. In both countries, their religions, particularly Buddhism, appear to be growing. However, a major difference between Thailand and Cambodia when it comes to Buddhism is how they incorporate it politically. In Cambodia, some of the Buddhist teachings are then used to create national laws. This is unlike Thailand, where the government supports Buddhism but does not consider the religion or the monks’ teachings as heavily in their development of laws or political platforms.

In conclusion, both Thailand and Cambodia follow similar religions, but they incorporate them into their countries and lives in different ways. This is part of what makes both countries unique and fascinating in their own ways.