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Thai Be Christian and Thai in the Thai Way

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Thai Be Christian and Thai in the Thai Way .. ....... .. I. ... ., ... : .. , . j;. ..... .. .... The Copyright law of the United States (title 17, United States Code) governs the making of phwtmwpies or wtha reproductiwns of mpyrighted material. Under cetZBin conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorid to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specific mditions is that the phohmpy or reproduction is not to be “Used fir my purpose other than private study, schdanhip, or research.” If B user make3 a quest far, or later uses, a photompy or repductim for puqmses in ecess of ‘‘fair we9’’that user may be liable for mpyright infringement, This institution reserves the right to rehe to accept a copying order if, in its judgmenk fulfitlrnent of the order would involve violation ofcoMght Jaw- By the using this materid, you are couwnting t~ abide by this copyright policy, Any duplication, reprodndinn, nr modification of this material without express waitken consent from Asbuv Theological Seminary andhr the original publisher is prohibited. Q Asbury TheoIogi@alSeminary 2009 Abstract This dissertation is research about contextualization which will help the Thai be Christian and Thai in the Thai way. The study defends the thesis that the Thai way of meekness is the best method by which to contextualize Christian discipling in Thailand. Moreover, the Thai way of meekness is compatible with scriptural teaching on meekness. Effective approaches to influence Thai non-believers, to nurture believers, and to discipline wrongdoers can be founded upon the Thai way of meekness. Relying on the insights of Suntaree Komin (1991) about Thai characteristics, I seek to investigate the characteristics of the Thai way of meekness. The theoretical framework is used to analyze the data from: library research, the Wessandorn Tataka myth, the Pai Dang (The Red Bamboo) novel, four case studies, research interviews among non-Christians, Thai Christians, and missionaries, Jesus' meekness and discipling in the Gospels, and missiological applications. The research affirms the thesis statement. Inquiry indicates that the Thai way of meekness is an important core of Thai culture. The research discovers the following: Thai worldview, the sources of the Thai way of meekness, the structure of Thai society, Thai understanding of religion, religious discipling, and religious discipling tools. The research confirms Suntaree Komin's nine Thai value clusters and illustrates Jesus' meekness and discipling for the Thai context. I propose new approaches for the Thai indigenous discipling which will help the Thai be Christian and Thai in the Thai way. ii DISSERTATION APPROVAL SHEET This dissertation, entitled THE WAY OF MEEKNESS: BEING CHRISTIAN AND THAI IN THE THAI WAY written by Ubolwan Mejudhon and submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Missiology has been read and approved by the undersigned members of the Faculty of the E. Stanley Jones School of World Mission and Evangelism Asbury Theological Seminary L Darrell L. Whiteman (the mentor) A. H. Mathias Z&ser (the committee) November 11, 1997 THE WAY OF MEEKNESS: BEING CHRISTIAN AND THAI IN THE THAI WAY by Ubolwan Mejudhon dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree, Doctor of Missiology The E. Stanley Jones School of World Mission and Evangelism Asbury Theological Seminary November 11 , 1997 Acknowledpment I am deeply grateful to many people and institutions who have made this research possible. First of all, I give thanks to my Savior, Jesus, who is the Meek and the Majestic. I believe this dissertation is inspired by Him, with Him and for Him. The task is actually beyond my strength. Therefore, I give thanks for all dear friends who prayed for me in New Zealand, the United States, and Thailand. I also thank God upon every remembrance of my doctoral committee, Dr. Darrell L. Whiteman, Dr. Mathias Zahniser, and Dr. Eunice Irwin. Dr. Whiteman, my mentor, helped me be a good Christian theologian and anthropologist. He inspired me to realize that I could be Thai and Christian. That was a precious moment of Christian enlightenment. He freed me to think, feel, and write in Thai Christian ways from beginning to end. Dr. Zahniser prayed for me. He inspired me to think deeply about meekness in mission when I studied Judaism and Islam with him. He spent countless hours to shape and reshape the structure of my dissertation. It is a joy to learn from him. Dr. Irwin became my friend during these three years. She taught me contextual theology and primal religion. Dr. Irwin took good care of our only daughter, Praporn, while we conducted research interviews in Thailand . I also would like to express my deep appreciation to all the faculty of the E. S. J. School of World Mission and Evangelism who have a both/ and worldview. They make the school reach high academic standards and are a warm, loving family. They are true to the gospel and plunder social science to bless the world with God's love. They also help us love people of different iii faiths and denominations without surrendering the uniqueness of Jesus Christ. I hereby salute all professors of the E. S. J.Schoo1. I remember the meticulous and creative editorial assistance of Lori Varney and Carroll Hunt with a grateful heart and admiration. My daughter, Praporn, mingled her love in every letter she typed for me. I thank her. Thanks are also due to the Muangthai Church Bangkok and Asbury Theological Seminary whose financial support made possible the travel for research interviews. I thank Thai Buddhists and many other denominations in Thailand: the Church of Christ, the Southern Baptist Mission, the Overseas Mission Fellowship, the Christian and Missionary Alliance Mission, and the Campus Outreach Ministry who dedicated their precious time and ideas for the research interviews. Most of all, I express my deepest love and appreciation for my beloved husband, children and mother: Nantachai, Vivorn, Vara, Praporn and Chur, who made me feel loved during these three busy years. To them I dedicate my dissertation. iv Table of Contents Chapter 1 The Spiritual Suffering and the Search for Solution .......... 1 Background of the Problem ........................ 1 Thesis Statement ............................... 8 Data Collection and Methodology ..................... 10 Definition of Terms .............................. 15 Theoretical Framework ........................... 21 Chapter 2 The Thai Way of Meekness: The Theoretical Model .......... 26 Outsiders' Research Concerning Thai Characteristic .......... 26 Insiders' Research Concerning the Thai Way of Meekness: Suntaree Komin ............................... 52 Chapter 3 The Thai Way of Meekness Confirmed in Classic Myth and Ritual . 74 The Wessandorn Tataka Myth........................ 74 Chapter 4 The Thai Way of Meekness Illustrated in Modern Fiction ...... 96 Pai Dang (The Red Bamboo) ........................ 96 Chapter 5 The Case Studies: The Thai way of Meekness Violated and Vindicated ......... 126 The Case Study of Nantachai Mejudhon's Conversion: From Aggression to Meekness in Influencing a Non-Christian Thai ... 126 The Case Study of Dr . Dan Beach Bradley: From Aggression to Aggression in Nurturing Thai Christians ............... 156 The Case Study of the Rev . and Mis . Mattoon: From Meekness to Meekness in Nurturing Thai Christians ................ 177 The Case Study of the Muangthai Church's Disciplining: From Shame to Reconciliation in Disciplining Wayward Christians ........ 192 Chapter 6 The Thai Way of Meekness: The Interview Results ......... 210 Purpose and Procedures of the Research Interviews ......... 210 Research Interviews: The Thai Way of Meekness Thai Buddhists ........................... 214 Thaichristians ...........................224 Missionaries ............................. 230 Research Interviews: The Thai Way of Meekness in Religious Discipling Thai Buddhist.s ........................... 234 Thai Christians ...........................252 Missionaries ............................. 267 Chapter 7 The Thai Way of Meekness Exemplified A Summary of Findings .......................... 278 The Thai Way of Meekness Exemplified ................ 279 The Strength of the Research Findings ................. 293 Chapter 8 The Thai Way of Meekness: Is it Biblical? ...............299 The Rites of Passage in Jesus' Incarnation ............... 300 Jesus. the Fulfillment of the Thai Way of Meekness ..........311 The Carpenter and the Fisherman .................... 321 Chapter 9 Toward the Thai Indigenous Discipling ................ 341 A Guide for New Approaches .......................341 vi Discipling Non-Believers: Anti-Structure of the Traditional Roles and Statuses .........344 Discipling New Believers: The Bonding with the Kinship Networks ............... 350 Discipling Believers: Informal and Formal Teaching ...................... 359 Discipling Wrongdoers: Reconciliation ................. 369 General Missiological Applications ................... 374 Suggestion for Further Research ..................... 378 References Cited and Bibliography .................... 381 vii -Tables Table Page 1. Komin's Nine Value Clusters and Related Values . 65 2. Komin's Nine Value Clusters and Thai Behavior Patterns . 67 3. Distribution of the Interviewees . 212 4. The Percentage of the Interview Results from Three Groups of Interviewees Concerning Two Major Categories of Results, the Thai Way of Meekness and the Thai Way of Meekness in Religious Discipling,
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