i think my brother who's a junior in highschool is about to convert to Christianity. hes been hanging out with these filipino kids and they gave him a bible. now he goes to bible study every sunday to socialize and talk to females lol. my parents found the bible on his table and i over heard my mom say "how come you never teach the kids much about Buddhism or culture?" my dad just replied "i was busy, you know that". i talked to my brother and asked him if he was T.Buddhist or Christian and he said he doesn't know yet. my brother doesnt know anything about T.Buddhism, all he knows is that lao people are T.Buddhist, we wear a string on our arm and we say 3 special words while we pray before we sleep. he asked me to tell him about T.Buddhism and it occurred to me, i dont know much about my own religion either.

now im not trying to control his life and all that but I just want him to know a bit about T.Buddhism so he doesn't convert just because his friends are. any of you who are knowledgeable about T.Buddhism wanna school me on the basics?

this almost happen to me and omg i almost got converted kinda sad tho
there this laotian girl who got converted and i was like wow, she hang out
with the white crowed and now goes to wednesday church and sing worship songs.
her parent are T.buddhist and idk how they treat her now.
after i when to laos i gave up on the whole christianity thing.

I hope this will help you on finding out about the Theravada Buddhism Sect.
http://www.buddhanet.net/budsas/ebud/ebdha143.htm

http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/BUDDHISM/THERA.HTM

i think my pitbull who's a purebreed from the animal shelter is about to convert to cat-ism. hes been hanging out with these siamese cats and they gave him cat food. now he eats cat food and meow every sunday to socialize and meow with other cats. my parents found the cat food on his table and i over heard my mom say "how come you never give him dog food and take him out for a walk?" my dad just replied "i was busy, you know that". i talked to my pitbull and asked him if he was a dog or a cat and he said he doesn't know yet. my pitbull doesnt know anything about dogism, all he knows is that dogs like to bark and pitbulls are lock jaws, and that Michael Vick abuses them. he asked me to tell him about Dog-ism and it occurred to me, i dont know much about my own pets either.

now im not trying to control his life and all that but I just want him to know a bit about dogs so he doesn't convert just because his friends are cats. any of you who are knowledgeable about dog-ism wanna school me on the basics?

I think parent should take their childen to Wat More, participating buddhidst activity,at least once a week, or once a month,

^Can you help me with my question too? I need answers.

He's only doing cause Christian programs have alot to offer in terms of activity. I went through it myself, I was attracted to their trips and events moreso than learning bout God and $hit. I loved it, aside from the Jesus talk, all we ever did was chill, go on trips like basketball games, camping and got free $hit. There were alot of girls to talk to and they weren't in it for religious reasons. They were there for the reason I was there...to socialize and have $hit to do. It was basically like an afterschool program with unlimited funding. We all did that god $hit but at the end of the day we still found ourselves smoking weed and doing dirt. I did it for a year and I still aint no damn Chirstian.

just ask him why does he wants to worship some Jewish Guy?

if he likes Earth, tell him that Christians want the world to be distroyed thats the only way their savoir will come.

Tell him that if he is a christian, then he must believe that u and ur parents will burn in hell for eternity when u guys pass away. If he is a good son, he wouldnt wish his parents to be in such a place, as a christian, then he is wishing it upon them.

in that case, ask him would he rather be next to Jesus in heaven doing what? i dont kow, heaven is a place where food is plentiful, as though ur going to die or something if u dont eat, so whats the point of a feast in heaven?
or be in hell with the rest of his family, at least ya'll will be together.

and yeah, it was for the girls of course, i'd go to the younglife christian crap in highschool, after the young christian meeting and songs, we go out drinking and bang the chicks, a few hours after the same chicks singing songs about how much Jesus loves them. O yeah, it wasn't Jesus doing the lovem that night.

Was he ever taken to Wat to become a temp. Monk? I thought all Lao boys do that in their early childhood.

Anyway T. Buddhism is hard to just teach someone else. I think what you can tell him is that he doesn't need to convert to Christianity to believe in God. Even in Buddhist countries, Buddha is not worshiped as a God but is almost something along the same lines as Jesus is to Christianity.

Buddha's name is Guatama Sidharta. He was born a royal who was locked in the glamorous lifestyle of the palace life. Uh... you should know this story .. just tell him this and how Buddhism is all about seeking truth.

naw i kid, i remember reading a buddhist book recommended for primary skool folks last year basic run down is that buddhism is all about seeking enlightment. buddha himself was not a god but a man who reached supreme enlightment where he found truth. buddhism makes you understand why people suffer and how to be a good person. ask him why he is considering converting

Whip his @$$.

I know as a kid in Lao, we all used to go to the Wats all the time. Once i got to the US in the early 80's, there was no Wats for us to go to. I remember every Sunday morning, there was baptist church nearby that used come by bus to pick us up to go to bible study all the time. We thought it was great because we got to eat free food. Throughout the years, i have been sort of going from one church to another because my friends convinced me to go but i never really became religious. If anything else i just lost interest in religions period for a long time until about 4-5 years ago when i started reading books about quantum physics, new age books and then buddhism.

Babyshank, you could atleast try to show him what buddhism is all about. I know some people look down to buddhist monks because they think that they go around begging for food everyday but that's not the whole point of why the do that, they're doing that so that can be in touch with the community. The monks are supposed to live simple life so they can be free of material things that are the cause of human sufferings. You dont see monks driving around in nice cars or living in luxurious houses like alot of preachers here do, do you?

Christianity is a lucrative enterprise. The Vatican pulls in 10s of billions of dollar each year. Half of that is hush money to payoff lil boys.

cute.

nice story.



possible solution. the problem is that the parents never made spirituality a priority in the home.






a can of whoop-azz does not solve the problem sir.



+1

i agree.

I cant talk too bad about Christianity since the people that sponsored my family and many others from the refugee camp to the US were Christians. They do alot good things around the world for people too. I will say that i do like some teachings of Christainity too. Have y'all seen a BBC documentary about Jeses studing in India? you can see some similiarity between Bhudda's teachings and Jesus's teachings.

oh oh oh oh oh oh I KNOW!

i already know that some parts in this video is bull$hit, but if he is a junior, he probably won't know anyway, an d it gets the point across http://youtube.com/watch?v=KeZB2EsPqGE

maybe show him this http://youtube.com/watch?v=mT_WHiHaXdw


then show him this http://youtube.com/watch?v=RnCYmrMtk5c or this http://youtube.com/watch?v=_YKof_ziiMQ

We don't owe them anything. Look at the bombs the U.S. dropped on Muang Lao. They might not be responsible for it, but still it's their government.

America didn't bomb Lao cause they were Christian idiot. You can thank Henry Kissinger for that.

there are people that claim to be christians that dont do what they preach and there are also people that claim to be budhists that dont do what they preach too. they can believe what they wanna believe as long as they dont hurt anyone. I'm not gonna push my belief on anyone is all i'm saying.

I've seen that BBC documentary already. That's a pretty messed up family.

Yeah, I'm just saying Khon Lao shouldn't feel obligated to convert to Christianity. It was their government in the first place that was dropping bombs on Muang Lao. So when they sponsor Khon Lao to the U.S. they should do it without anything attach to it.

Show him some cult watch sites and youtube clips. Keep him away from those guys.
Better yet hook him up with a girl whose hates Christians. Maybe she can draw him away.

Give me a minute to tell him the story of me converting to Christianity when I was sixteen. After going to this church several years, my heart was broken when I found out my pastor was caught in LA with a pistol, heroin, and a prostitute in his car.

haha, are you kidding us? That's way too many sins in just one altercation.

hide in the shower and then spook him with that perfumed water we splash during lao new years
probably getting him involved with any sort of activities at the temple may keep him interested
in T.Buddhism... or it could just be a small phase of interest?

Speaking for myself here. I believe i'm obligated to extend that same kindness to other people escpecially here in the US.

If our people are so concerned with the younger generations converting to other religions then maybe we need to do more practice what we peach, dont you think?

I read in the forum and I agree with Aithong in this topic. I also agree with him on other topics, too.
Both Buddshim and Christian are different in practice but both religion are good religions if you follow the guilines and principles. They are almost the same.
All Religion teach us: Respect for life, Respect for others' property, Respect for our pure nature, Respect for honesty, Respect for a clear mind.

I have a coworker that worships Satan. He's pretty cool in that he's pretty honest guy. Actually, i trust him more than i trust my so called christian coworkers eventho they make fun of his belief.

No, I'm not kidding. He had been doing heroin for years. He was just a closet druggy.

EDIT to add: I have yet to step into a church from that day on.

Umm...am such having love-hate relationship with Christianity. Am sorry the basic teaching are good like YOU MUST DO GOOD DEED like any religions even so the same as Buddhism, however we practiced our religions differently, our religions goals are different and some of the ideas too.
Still i would go mad if any of my family will get converted...seriously i have nothing against them but i wouldnt want my family to become one.
Well as i have nothing against them doesnt mean am cool with their religion...i think i started to dislike it at very young age after watching Conquest of Paradise or something...am like what? Why the superiors farang always think their religion is good and the rest are bad? Thats seriously small mind ok.
And like how they say...they are not Christian they will go to hell...am like this Jeez even on present day when i read some of the comments on Youtube.
Seriously they are very backward mind of ppl if they dare to judge other ppl religions that way.

I went to Catholic high school and i always get religious class but its not the same concept like America since i live in Europe. The concept were not really focus on Jesus or anything about his life or much bla bla. We were more into the talking part side of life about emotions, how do we handle things, what if your love ones die...how you´ll going to deal with the lost, how do we see this consequence if you have failed ect...It was very base on philosophy of Christianity so am cool with it...it actually give you a thought of life perspective but not the intention to get you converted or like going to praise the Lord. We do not pray or reading psalm just discussion about life aspects.
I thought it was actually fun class and even thought the teacher knew am Buddhist its fine...he didnt make ideas to get you change religion or anything. Well what to say Europeans are different then Americans, they are more open to things and liberating. Umm, maybe it have a thing to do that Europeans are not very religions anymore...lolz it do play a big role in that. Thats why they are cool ppl.

Ok i sound negative but i know the bad things i see was done by bad Christians so its tppl and not the religion itself. There are alot of bad Buddhist out there too...who just happens to be born with it and never learn anything Buddha teach. Come to the point that ppl still ppl...not a perfect creature.

Ok try to consider my points.

1) Ask him first before going to convert his faith that, he need to let Buddhism a chance into his life before changing. Learn about what Buddhism is by very basic things. Rent a movie Little Buddha and buy some basic Buddha teachning books (or you can surf the net for it) and learn about aspects of Buddhism. If he never knew what Buddhism is or yourself which actually a bigger brother should show his little brother knowhow. You 2 need to work together. Um i sound like a mental coach 555

2)After learning trying to talk about it...what he think or you think about the subjects on Buddhism. This way can really out put your thoughts and open your mind up, sharing them with love ones is also great, maybe take both of your parents into the scene is a must.
Your brother will see that his whole family is supporting him and helping him.

3)Later on ask him if he wants to visit a temple or even take sunday class in the temple. I dont know where you live or even if they have sunday school or not. If they dont offer lessons just bring him to talk with monks, let him ask questions. A very good way for him is to try being a novice for a while...this would be helpful, he will feel it more then just read books. Sometime you learn more by taking actions.

4)All have done...still not convince him for being a Christian. Well then there is nothing more you can do if that is really what your brother want. Forbidden is not the answer, this will only make the whole family getting hurt.

Wow what a long post sorry 4 bla bla too much.
Lets see some videos.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNfFJaJRSn8
Kru Ba from CR with dek doi...a must see video.
I think if i have time i want to visit his temple.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7d-KozmokQ
Talk Your Way To Happiness
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1Prm3nAvFs
Right to Belive? Good one!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kPIzHh5zZs
Searching For Nirvana

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wX5phZ8bVyQ
This boy is talking what meditation is all about.



I think Christians from America are the scariest ppl on eart. Lolz there are alot of them in CR cause of the Hill Tribes ppl. Darn Thai government! If they accept and help kon doi things would be just fine with out farang kao reed=farang converters , hate Thai government when they neglected kon doi, to me they are my fellow country man woman too since they were all born in Thailand. There are good Christians organizations but do you know that the main goal of them is to converting ppl as much as possible?

Whatever they do why dont they just simply help without asking things in return? To get help you must exchange your religion? Come on now... This is the totally the opposite of Buddhism.
The Lord Buddha teach us to do good deeds with no expectation of others.
What if kon doi want help without givingup on animist beliefs? As long as they dont use their beliefs as a license to kill...let them be please!

Take a look at this clip.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVp4KxYfg2g

That's a long post, nong. let me read it 1st.

I like how the buddhist in here have a holier-than-thou attitude when it comes to other religions, kinda ironic coming from so-called buddhist.

This is a forum, we talk about the differences between the 2 religions.

We debate because Buddhism ask us to question all things, so we are merely following our teaching,

Christinity is a backward religion, that promotes brainwashing.

Buddhism promotes enlightment, the Buddha even asked ppl to not just take his word, but search for urself the truth.

How can Christinaity be a good or peaceful religion, Yeah, only for ppl who are Christian, but eveyone else according to their belief are dammed. If they feel all other ppl are going to hell, then how could anyone in their right mind consider Christianity a peaceful or honorable religion.

of course not, Christians promotes War and the destruction of the world, what do u think is behind the book of revolations? Jesus only returns when the world is in the brink of War and destruction, So if u are a christian, u are hoping that time of War and destruction is coming, only then ur savoir will come.

Sorry if we have to point out the short comings of Chritianity, but thats why its called a forum. So we can talk about it.

I'll respond to this thread when i get home from work.

I guess you and I are on a different page. I am a firm believer that we should hold on to traditions and values that our ancestors pass down to us; especially something as important as Buddhism which has come to define us as a people. I know some people would dismiss this as being narrowed minded and what not, but I feel as a Lao man, Buddhism is something too deeply interwoven with our identity.

Just look at the Hmong forum, Christianity killed the Hmong Forum or the reason why its dead.

Hmong Christians dont like talking about their culture, because Christianity has nothing to do with their culture.

Hmong Christains dont like talking about their history because Christiantiy is not apart of their history.

Unless the topic is about Jesus Christ and how much they love him, then their is no reason to talk about Hmong Cutlure.

I feel bad for them.

thanks for the responses.


He has shaved his head when my grandfather died but never went to a Wat to sleep or anything. i think we only go to the wat on pi-mai -__-

My parents coming to the US escaping war worked mad hours trying to save money. we were taken care by other relatives most of the time. Now I know how important it is to pass on the language and teachings to my children when i have them.

I don't want Khon Lao and Muang Lao to turn into countries like South Korea and other countries where Christianity is so prevalent. To turn our back on something our parents, grandparents, great grandparents, great great grandparents, etc. to something that has never been a part of who we are is just not right. How could a Lao Christian participate in something like "Boun Huat Nam" with their fellow Lao knowing that it goes against their Christian belief systems? So to me Christianity goes against every aspect of Lao society and Khon Lao.

there are alot of bad things that are harmful to people in this country, being converted to a particular religion is not on top that list for me. I dont see why participating in something humanly universal such kindness, peace and forgiveness with people of different beliefs has anything to do with not being Lao. Living in a multicultural societies such a America or Europe requires us to be more acceptable other people's beliefs much like they're acceptablt to ours.

Well, i understand how you feel, nong. You living in Thailand is alot easier not to get converted to other faiths but for alot Lao and other minorities here in America, it's not that easy since it's pretty much a christian dominated society. My younger sister and her family are Jahova witneses, they got converted atleast 20 yrs ago. Believe me, they've tried convert me over the years but without success. I guess my skull is too thick for their preaching to penetrate. we've had many arguments about religions all the time over the years and it got to the point now we just dont talk religion when get together anymore.

Alot of the Christians here in the US are bordering on the extreme side compares to Europe. One of the reasons that they turn me off is because on the one hand they preach love and on the other hand, they praech hatred of the gays. There are other branches of Christianity that are alot more moderate but not many here in America that i know of, I think they're called Agnostics.

It's human nature for people to be loyal to the hands that feed them. I see why those minority hilltribes people are easily converted to christianity. The Buddhist government in their country dont even care to help them, can you blame them for converting?

actually Satanism is kinda cool

they aren't the sacrificial evil maniacs that is depicted in the media. It is the belief that every person is in complete contol of thier own spirit, and they don't really worship an actual Lucifer.

My satanist coworker is a cool guy. He's alot more openminded when talking religions and politics with. Now most my of so-called christian coworkers, their way is the only way. I joke with him all the time about animal and human sacrifices and he'd always give me the middle finger solute.

you and your brohter need to go learn about T.buddhism for real. why not do the monk thing here in thailand and you will know. either way he has right to choose for himself but people should be well educated BEFORE they choose their religion.


anyone who belongs to a religion based solely on obligation is a hypocrit and a liar to themselves.

haha, and they make damn fine music too 555

Bro, I know my definition of "being Lao" might seem "rigid" to some people, but I feel like what our forefathers pass down for generation to generation is what makes us who we are. It's more than just having "Si Luat Lao"(Lao blood) that define and connects us, it's the pain and struggles of our ancestors and everything they cherised. As a grown man, when I see little Lao boys and little Lao girls having fun throwing water and whipped cream at each other at the local Wat, it makes smile because that's what I used to do, and my parents and their parents parents used to do and so on. It's that bond and connection that is important.

Living in the U.S. and other Western countries doesn't mean we should forget our roots and where we come from. We can "integrate" in Western societies without having to "assimilate" all aspects of who we are into Western societies.

Dont tell me that you dont see khon dum and khon kow go to boun pi mai at the wat where you come from because i see alot of them go here in Texas. I doubt that they're even buddhists. I'm just saying that maybe we shouldnt be so hard on the people that want to convert to other religions if they think it's best for them. We're no better than those people that think buddhist are evil if we resort to that way of thinking.

There is nothing in buddhist teaching that has anything to do with evil

There is passage upon passage in the old and new testiment that promotes evil, or the killing of others, as being gods will. if they are different or dont believe as you do, they die, or are going to be condemned. < THis is Christian teaching and belief's, Not my personal opinion.

Buddhist accepts everything that is good,

Christianity condemns those who are not Christian, PERIOD.

Whats true is true. I can point it out, because it is true. Christianity is an Evil Religion i feel.

There is a difference.

By saying that we're good and they're bad, we basically just break the buddhist teaching by attaching too much that our belief is right.

I have absolutely nothing against Christians, but I just think that Christianity as a religion is not something i find admirable at all. I've been told outright that i am going to burn in hell for not believing in Christ and there are people always trying to convert me (which really pisses me off), and I've read alot of the bible and got nothing out of it. Christianity is hypocritical and can be intrepreted to justify anything. Again, if a person wants to change his life for the better by converting to Christianity, that is great, and i would commend that. But if he is just doing it without really thinking, in my opinion there are alot better choices.

In my opinion, back then, before the the church became so embellished, Christianity used fear and punishment to get thier point across. Which brings me to Tomes of Acrimony lyrics hehehehe

Etched within the centuries,
bequeathed upon the generations
Litanies guide the baneful,
serve the scourge of enmity
Echoes of ignorance
Scrolls of hatred and prejudicial idolatry
Words of malice scald the culture while raping society

Spoken tales defile all purity
History enshrines the absurd
Forced to relive the insanity relive
Revert the passages of time, unearth archaic ways
Reset epoch's once dispersed, enslave rationality
Exhibit the bleeding of man's ancient wounds
Share this misguided pain,
conjure the demons of the past
Defy, fall to no demigod
Blasphemous their theologies
Inquisitions punish sinners, justify the genocide
Cleanse the bastards, slay the torrid,
rid the land of stained skin
Words of insolence ordain the future
Plauge the seed of morality
Behold.....the tomes of acrimony

.....

I disagree with them too on something like that. Look, as i have said earlier that i have a coworker that is a satanist, i dont agree with some of his belief either but it doesnt take away the fact that he's an openminded individual and a cool guy. Even the Christians too, eventho i disagree with their belief, alot of them are still good, honest people.