American versus Thai Worldview

East Versus West

In the West, when we approach apologetics we enjoy certain key freedoms such as freedom of religion and freedom of speech. We also function within our particular cultural context which values individuality, personal expression, and the equal value of every person. We have a long tradition of Western philosophy that underpins our thinking. We emphasize logic, reason, and the defense of ideas and principles. We also have a long tradition of Christianity which has shaped our ideas of what is good and evil, what is moral, what is truth. As to God, the whole idea of God is part and parcel of our concepts about religion in general.

In the East there are many countries that do not have freedom of speech or freedom of religion. Community is valued over the individual. Equality is considered a Western idea. Eastern philosophy has its underpinnings in different concepts, such as circular rather than linear reasoning. Harmony is valued over being right. Truth comes in different and sometimes conflicting forms. There are questions that should not be asked. As to religion, in Southeast Asia where we are, Christianity is considered the religion of the foreigner.

So, in the East, the apologetic task of the Christian looks much different. These significant distinctions between our worlds must be addressed. Language is one aspect, but it is actually these cultural aspects that pose the greatest challenges when sharing one’s faith. 

John 3:16

One illustration of the challenge of presenting the gospel in this part of the world is how confusing our go-to verse about God is. John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” This verse is deeply at odds with the Buddhist worldview. The Buddha taught against the idea of a Creator God. He also taught that love would lead to clinging and suffering, it is not ideal. That God had a son indicates he had a wife, another confusing idea since marriage is not spiritual. Eternal life is not seen as the ultimate good in the Buddhist worldview. Instead, Nirvana is, the cessation of self. The Buddha also taught explicitly against the concept of an eternal or immortal soul. These ideas the Buddha called awicha, or ignorance, they are considered unworthy thoughts. So the apologetic approach one chooses ought to be thought through carefully before presented.

The Idea of God

A major challenge in sharing one’s faith here in the East is the idea of God.

God is a question that Westerners must answer. This is because the Christian God is part of our cultural heritage. Even today, although we talk about the West being a post-Christian society, Christianity is still in our cultural memory. If you ask most people in the West about God, they will usually think of the God of the Christian worldview. The dominant religion in the West is still Christianity and there are churches in every town and city in America. When a Westerner thinks about the idea of God there is also emotion, whether positive or negative. When we consider the idea of God there are considerations and ideas that we have heard about since we were young, whether for or against the idea of God.

In the East, and in particular Southeast Asia, the idea of a Creator God is a strange one. The Buddha taught against a Creator God explicitly. He also taught against the idea of the beginning of time or the beginning of the universe. What he taught instead is that the universe and all life is a product of endless cycles of birth, aging, death, and rebirth. So where a Westerner cannot avoid the question of God, the Easterner may have never considered it. Here in Thailand there are thousands of Buddhist temples but few churches. The country is 94% Theravada Buddhist. What this means is that a Westerner trying to talk to a Buddhist about God is bringing up new ideas that his family, friends, and community will not support or like.

Philosophical Underpinnings

Another challenge is how we Westerners think. It has been explained by some that Western thinking is linear in nature. In the Western world we have a very different philosophical undergirding that predates the rise of Christianity. When one studies philosophy it is astounding to realize how much of our thought and ideas have their genesis with philosophers hundreds if not thousands of years ago. Greek philosophy of 2,500 years ago continues to have a profound influence on our culture and thinking today. We continue to wrestle and grapple with these ancient ideas and considerations.

Here in the East, however, the philosophical undergirding is quite different. The Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama, was born in India 2,500 years ago (563 BC) is a good example of this. While Western philosophers were asking questions like, “Where did the world come from?” “Why are we here?” “Is there a God?” The Buddha was teaching people, “Do not ask the question of where the universe came from…this is the truth of the universe (countless cycles). Do not ask about who created the universe, that is awhicha, ignorance.” While Western philosophers were contemplating the spirit and the soul, the Buddha taught there is no soul, and certainly no immortal soul, and to consider the idea was actually sinful ignorance.

Logic and Reason

Westerners are known for their critical thinking abilities. There is acknowledgement that there is a lack of critical thinking skills here in the East. One of the reasons for this is the difference in educational methodology. Education in the East, for example, focuses on rote memorization rather than analyzing ideas. This discrepancy has been recognized and many educational reform programs have been implemented to train younger generations in this skill all over Asia. Asians are often thought to have “circular thinking” and a tendency to focus on harmony rather than settling an argument between two ideas. In this kind of thinking it is possible to have conflicting values or ideas rather than determining to land on one position. In such thinking, resolution may actually incorporate conflicting ideas. This is very apparent in their religious practices. Harmony is valued over being right. Harmony can be valued over principles as well, which is very different than typical Western thought.