Christianity is always legal in Laos.  A small percentage of Catholics, Protestants and other religious freaks who often in time use materials, money to convert traditional Buddhists would be the ones that cause trouble. They strongly believe that only they are the true saviors in the world. They like to stir things up and cause much resentment among Laotian citizens. I would be lying if I say they are not aggressive with the spread of their religions. In their sinful wishes, they would like to convert the whole world not just Laos to Christianity.  Their main enemy is the Muslim religion.

Lao people abroad, please open your ears, eyes wider.
Look at the source of the news you  posted, it is from BosNewsLife Asia, a no name agency, that try to create only bad image for Laos. If it is true, all the CNN, NBC and other famous news agency will cover the issue.

Next time please don't post this funny topic again.
All religion is legal in Laos


Church in Savannakhet province

Anonymous wrote:

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Bruce, I surely agree with you on this issue. The Christians are not only using Westerns to convert Lao people, now small percentage of Lao oversea that got converted are attempting to go to Laos and convert our own  people. That is just so pathetic, I would say to these peope, over my dead body. Good thing about Kon Lao, that we can't never forget our culture no matter where we're. The good example are in the USA here where small Lao community even have their own Wat, it's amazing to me. Look around my city, the churches have Korean sign everywhere. I would say only <1% of Kon Lao that got converted are trying to live like they're American. They try to fit in, only to find out that no matter what they do, they will still be asked liked " where are you from?". Lao people in the USA practice Buddhism, but we don't go around converting people. We don't cause any trouble.    

Christianity has been well known throughout centuries that their sole purpose is to convert any non-Christian wherever or wherever possible by using money and wealth as their tools.  They normally send their missionaries to third world countries and claim to have great sympathy with God’s love as a pretext to get mission accomplish.  Their main aim is not so much about adults, but children because it is less of a challenge to convert the kids than to convert someone at your age.  People who live under dire poverty would be easy target.  I agree with the other Anonymous’ post about freedom to worship and practice whatever faiths they believe in. For example, in U.S, they have various religions, but you must be able to differentiate that in America, it is quite impossible to use financial power to indirectly convert someone because most people do have access to basic needs.  But Laos is totally different.  People are too poor and the financial pressure is so real.  The success rate is very high for Christian in any third world; as you know financial desperation and the need to survive take precedence over your beloved religion tough you might be unwillingly give yourself in, but your children are pretty much set for automatic conversion.  Religion and tradition go hand in hand and without proper control, our culture will be in great jeopardy.  My great empathy for Laotian government and fully support them if they need to preserve our culture then they need to do whatever it takes.  Comparing America to Laos is unrealistic at best.

I recalled having a courteous public discourse with Laotian Catholics, but it was quite laughable to learn that they did not even know Catholic is Christian.  Furthermore, they got upset with me when I made my reference to both religions were the same.  It did not surprise me due to their lack of education.  So, I explained to them that Christianity was found after Christ was born and originally under Christianity, there were only two religions:  Catholic and Orthodox later some people from within were not happy so they stacked huge protests against Catholicism eventually led to permanent isolation and called themselves Protestant; from then on, they continued to branch out with different names such as:   Methodist, Baptist, etc.

I was born into a Buddhist family and I will remain as a Buddhist until they day I die. I don’t see the need for me to convert myself to anything and certainly, I am not in any financial desperation.  I respect my tradition, culture and religion to the extent, but I am not bound by either one. 

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I think only foolist newsman refered the religion to anti Lao people (specially Christian). They hope for political situatiion in Laos. Foolist///////

Anonymous wrote:

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Yes, it's funny how Lao people in America that are Christian. In a way, they don't even think of themselves as Lao people. They tried to separate themselves as a higher class people and don't even want to associate with Lao Buddhist people.
I am afraid that our Lao people will dissapear from this earth if we don't unite and support each other.

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Sigh! They don’t make me feel any less important as a Laotian Buddhist.  It doesn’t bother me in what caste they claim to be since it doesn’t cost a dime to be Christian and certainly you don’t need to have a brain of rocket scientist to join those religious nuts. Buddhism has existed in Laos for many centuries and it will continue to exist for our posterity.  Our Buddha only teaches the truth of life and we don’t believe in competition for membership.  In fact, we welcome those who want to join us without any  stipulation.  We don’t ask or demand any person to forsake their faiths to be a Buddhist.  We don’t impose our will on others and we have no prerequisites for others to be one of us.  This is true for primitive Buddhism and modern day Buddhism.  Christian on the other hand, opted for aggressive policy by using any necessary means to convert others.  They believe in deceitful engagement, interference and economic coercion, taking the advantage of the poor are very common practices throughout their history.

Lan_Xang wrote:

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I would have to say some of the so call Buddhists hardcore here can not tolerate Christian aggressiveness.

I say don't be upset when you seen Christians trying to recruit new members. If you are Buddhist than you know you don't control the live of the person those Christian are trying to convert. Instead why don't you go out and spread the word of Dhamma to counter Christians.

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If your comments were actually directed at me then, I must tell you that I am not anywhere close to being a hardcore Buddhist.  Honestly, I have not been in any temple for the last 20 years and maybe I should.  It would be more appropriate to describe myself as the Agnostic. I don’t lay my faith in any religion 100% unless it’s scientifically proven fact.I replied to the Anonymous poster who has an irrational concern about the disappearance of Lao people which is to me it’s more than hypothetical assumption. It does not matter how aggressive some Christian folks pursue their strategy to convert others, Laotian Buddhists will always be out number them simply because it is the main religion of the nation.

 

It would be less resentment and conflict if everybody respects other people’s faiths, but unfortunately Christianity chooses the policy of conversion and I am sure you are very well aware of that.  You can’t simply convert someone without trying to refute their traditional beliefs and desecrating their religions and later leads to hatred then outright discrimination among citizens. Let me put it this way: There is no such thing as  “Innocent Conversion” I am not saying Christianity is evil; realistically, most religions are taught based on love, caring and sharing.  But this is beyond the point.

 

 

Anonymous wrote:

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Look around my city, the churches have Korean sign everywhere. I would say only <1% of Kon Lao that got converted are trying to live like they're American. They try to fit in, only to find out that no matter what they do, they will still be asked liked " where are you from?". Lao people in the USA practice Buddhism, but we don't go around converting people. We don't cause any trouble.

 

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Thats a rather naive comment, just because people convert to christianity or whatever religion that associates "Jesus", doesn't mean they're trying to live an American lifestyle. Being Christian or whatever doesn't mean you 'fit in' in America.

Lao, Thai, Chinese, ASIAN people in general that I have met and asked why they have 'converted' usually attribute their conversion to an epiphany in life. And many Lao/Burmese people, as you know when Pathet Lao took over, fled to refugee camps. And a very large majority came to America via "Hosts through Churches", some remained Buddhists and most converted because of the "kind-heart church people had," that they took them in.

This is the most common story I tend to hear with Christian-Asians. And no- noone was 'forced to convert' - that only happens with those hardcore people, and those who have the mindset of 18th/19th century person.

and for the record, religions in America don't distinguish or seperate people in America, it's what you do and your status. Relgion in no way elevates/decreases your social status. I have a bunch of aethiest and buddhist friends, even muslim, and we're all close friends, religion is just something to explain the unexplainable, to 'have faith and believe in something'. whereas if you're a science-buff then you're more than likely an aethiest.. i could go on and on.. but I think I've made my point.

I as for 1 is a Lao born Catholics, where i live in lao is a small island village off the main land of lao, we all born and practices Catholic religion, If u don't know the fact please don't post something so idiototic because no one is forcing another person to practice any religion that they don't want to get into, if u live in Australia or USA, u will be open minded that there are alot of different religions where everyone belong to an individual group or religion of their own choosing not by force but yeah off course u will get occasionally a small group who would like to spread their religion to the world or other people but if u have a strong believe in ur religion then stay as a buddist or catholic, don't get persuate by the cults or preacher who like to turn u into something u don't want to. But don't judge people on which religion they belong to. I am a born Catholic but my husband is a buddist but we don't force each other over 1 religion to another. This is an era of 2000, please be open minded and willing to accept people as who they are not which religion they are.....Not everyone is willing to believe in the same thing as everyone.... Let there be peace in this world.....I know some people live in a communist reigme but let people who wants to practice which religion of their own choice, not by force. tq

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