Thai Superstition vs Western Skepticism: Building Bridges with Dr. Andrew Johnson Part 1 [S6.E63]

Part 1 of 2! Greg interviews author Andrew Johnson, a cultural
anthropologist with an expertise in the supernatural beliefs of
Thailand and how they interact with urban planning and
architecture. First, Greg inquires about the nature of
'superstition' in Thailand, and whether Thai people truly live up
to their reputation for being 'superstitious.' Andrew notes that
the distinction between 'religion' and 'superstition' is really a
modern formalization of certain 'official' religions, Buddhism in
Thailand's case. But the nature of Buddhism is such that it is
more tolerant of 'syncretism,' or the mixing of beliefs, so Thai
culture is really steeped in three traditions: formal Theravada
Buddhism, Brahmanism (an earlier form of Hinduism), and
'animism,' or the folk beliefs of early Thais. 


Next, Andrew emphasizes that both the newer systems of belief and
the older folk beliefs are actually in a constant state of
evolution. Thais from the countryside steeped in animist ideas
must adapt to living in a city of high rises and skytrains and
taxis, just as Thais from the city may prefer modern variations
of Buddhism (such as Dhammakaya or Santi Asoke) to traditional
Theravada Buddhism. 


The men continue with a fascinating exploration of the status of
Bangkok in Thai society, how Thais address the issue of
skepticism and belief, and how foreigners can best open their
minds to Thai beliefs while keeping their feet on the
ground. 


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