An Examinaton of Buddhist-Muslim Experiences of Interfaith Rituals in Thailand

Thai society is a society in which people are free to choose and practice their religion. Thailand does not have an official national religion, yet the Thai constitution still stipulates that the king must be a Buddhist and the patriarch of the religion. The majority of its population is Buddhist, followed by Muslims, who account for only five percent of the population. Although the percentage of Muslims is small, Islam is the predominant religion, especially in three of the four southernmost provinces of the country. However, in 2017 the Thai Constitution states that the government should support and protect Buddhism and other religions. In support and protection of Buddhism, the religion practiced by most Thais. The government should promote and support the education and dissemination of the Dharma principles of Theravada Buddhism for mental development, and measures and mechanisms must be in place to prevent Buddhism from being subjected in any form. Thus, this research focuses on understanding the nature of interfaith relations and co-existence between Muslims and Buddhists in Thailand and explores the practices of interfaith relations as expressed through the performance of shared rituals. The present study uses qualitative description and structured textual analysis to analyze the primary and secondary resources for the research. It shows that coexistence between Buddhists and Muslims in Thailand indicates a generally positive relationship as evident by the virtues embodied in the beliefs and practices of both faiths in the past and present state. The coexistence of both religions has many impacts, such as the establishment of Islamic schools in Thailand and the government allowing Muslims to wear Islamic dress in public and work places. The study also shows that interfaith rituals can unite Buddhists and Muslims in Thai society. Data analysis indicates that interfaith rituals contribute to resolving conflicts in society if both faiths can apply a conflict resolution approach, such as the Elicitive approach and, Muslims dare to reject and condemn the violence in the south by extremists. In conclusion the government, NGOs, Buddhist and Muslims leaders, and other organizations can adapt this approach to govern Thai society and to continue promoting interfaith rituals and coexistence.