Religious Changes in Modern Southeast Asia

Description

Page: 187-191

Pushpa Devi (Department of History, Govt. Sant Baba Seva Singh Memorial College (Girls), Ropar, Punjab)

Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar (Burma), the Philippines, Singapore, Timor Lester, Thailand, and Vietnam are the eleven countries that make up Southeast Asia. There were mainly four religious followers by the Southeast Asian countries people as Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism and Christian. Hinduism is the Oldest Religion throughout the region . Hinduism greatly impacts the evolution of culture. Vibrant Hindu communities of Tamil migrated from the India sub-continent to Southeast Asia in the past centuries. In Singapore, there are approximately thirty major temples worshiping different Hindu gods and goddesses. Islam spread in this region peacefully through trade network linking the region with South Asia, China and Middle East. Islam in this session in forever both global and local. The people of Indonesia and Malaysia accepted Islam after the arrival of Muslim merchants in the 13th Century. They built their mosques on the side of Hindu or Buddhist temples. Buddhism arose from the teaching from Siddhartha Gautama Indian Prince. He taught one could secure salvation. His teaching appealed not only to Indian but also to millions of other Asian. In Southeast Asia the Mahayanists and Theravadists closely followed the teaching of Buddhism. In modern period two significant Buddhist movements marked meditation movement and socially engaged Buddhism. Christian Missionaries arrived from Europe In the 16th Century through Roman Catholics. In Asia, Christianity dates back to its very beginnings. Christian mission was closely linked to trade business so Christianity in the region enter through business trade, migration, colonialism way. Christian Businessman also supported there missions and Churches out of personal conviction.