Thailand
In Thailand, ‘socially engaged Buddhism’ goes beyond meditation to seek justice
By Kalpana Jain — July 17, 2023
BANGKOK (RNS) — A network of socially conscious Buddhists is challenging conceptions of personal devotion to tackle pressing problems in the faith and even beyond their country's borders.
Thai police say Chinese church members to be deported soon
By Jintamas Saksornchai — April 5, 2023
BANGKOK (AP) — More than 60 self-exiled members of a Chinese Christian church who were detained in Thailand after receiving U.N. refugee status will be deported by next week, probably to a third country, officials said Wednesday.
Trial resumes for suspects in 2015 Bangkok shrine bombing
By Tassanee Vejpongsa — November 22, 2022
BANGKOK (AP) — A Thai court on Tuesday resumed the long-delayed trial of two members of China's Muslim Uyghur minority accused of carrying out a 2015 bombing at a Bangkok landmark that killed 20 people.
Thailand’s restive south hit by wave of arson and bombings
By Sumeth Panpetch — August 17, 2022
HAT YAI, Thailand (AP) — Muslim residents have long charged they are treated like second-class citizens in Thailand, and separatist movements have been periodically active for decades. Heavy-handed crackdowns have fueled the discontent.
The climate bill is our generation’s moonshot. Failure is not an option.
By Joshua Hammerman — August 12, 2022
(RNS) — As Ron Howard's new movie shows, our new adventure means digging deep, not going high.
Water fights, magical decapitated heads and family reunions – the Southeast Asian festival of Songkran has it all
By Andrew Alan Johnson — April 11, 2022
(The Conversation) — In Southeast Asia, Songkran is a time to celebrate the coming year with water fights, honoring elders and offering prayers.
At online symposium, Pope Francis says religions can eradicate sexual abuse together
By Claire Giangravé — April 13, 2021
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — After decades of child sexual abuse scandals, the Catholic Church is ready to share its successes — and failures — with other religious and lay institutions.
In Thailand, Pope Francis wins hearts by breaking the mold
By Claire Giangravé — November 22, 2019
BANGKOK (RNS) — In Thailand's highly formal society, Pope Francis’ relaxed approach has already brought together political and religious leaders to help those left behind in the country's increasingly commercial culture.
Pope brings his ‘show, don’t tell’ evangelization to Thai Catholics
By Claire Giangravé — November 21, 2019
BANGKOK (RNS) — Pope Francis praised Thai Catholics as 'missionary disciples' for their work in health care and serving others during his visit to the mostly Buddhist nation this week.
Visiting Thailand, Pope Francis to champion the poor and the environment
By Claire Giangravé — September 27, 2019
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — As Francis continues to promote the care of creation, he aims to connect with a broader audience than the country's tiny Catholic community.
Why the rescued Thai soccer boys are considering becoming monks
By Andrew Alan Johnson — July 17, 2018
(The Conversation) — In Theravada Buddhist practice, ordination as a monk and donating the merit thus gained is one of the greatest honors that a person can give to another.
Christian film producers plan movie about Thai cave rescue
By Yonat Shimron — July 11, 2018
NEW YORK (AP) — The producers behind Christian films like 'God's Not Dead' are already in Thailand with plans to develop a movie about the 18-day saga of the soccer team trapped in a flooded cave.
Inside the sacred danger of Thailand’s caves
By Andrew Alan Johnson — July 11, 2018
(The Conversation) In Thailand, caves like the one the soccer team was trapped in are said to be ruled by nature spirits who offer their followers something that Buddhism cannot: assistance with love, money, and other things monks do not provide. At the same time, the spirits pose a danger if slighted.
Spirit of mythical princess looms over Thai cave crisis
By Tassanee Vejpongsa — June 28, 2018
(AP) — Along a muddy mountain path not far from the entrance to a flooded cave where 12 young members of a Thai soccer team have been missing for four days is a shrine to a mythical princess whose spirit is said to inhabit the caverns below.
Renowned Buddhist scholar faces jail for ‘criticizing’ Thai monarchy
By Kimberly Winston — January 16, 2018
(RNS) — An internationally derided "lèse-majesté" law may send Sulak Sivaraksa to jail for 15 years.
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