Culture Research
9 Surprises about Religion in South and Southeast Asia
Interesting Findings in a Recent Pew Report
On 23 September 2023, the Pew Research Center published a report called ‘Buddhism, Islam and Religious Pluralism in South and Southeast Asia’.
It’s quite long. However, I’ve read it so you don’t have to.
There were quite a few surprises in there. Here are 9 things that shocked me.
Surprise #1: Religion is Still Important
In the West, the importance of religion seems to be on the decline. This is not the case in South and Southeast Asia.
For those in the region, their religion is important. This is perhaps not a surprise to those who live in Asia. However, what is surprising is the strength and ubiquity of this sentiment. These are the figures for those who say their religion is at least somewhat important:
- Indonesia = 100%
- Sri Lanka = 99%
- Cambodia = 97%
- Thailand = 95%
- Malaysia = 94%
- Singapore = 69%
Of these, the number who say religion is very important are as follows:
- Indonesia = 98%
- Sri Lanka = 92%
- Malaysia = 85%
- Cambodia = 67%
- Thailand = 65%
- Singapore = 31%
Surprise #2: There’s Diversity in Religious Practice
Whilst all the countries say that religion is important, the extent to which it is practiced and how it is practiced is diverse.
Most Indonesians, Malaysians and Sri Lankans pray daily. Whereas less than a quarter of Cambodians do.
Cambodians are most likely to believe in magic (78%). Less than half of Thai people believe in this.
Sri Lankans of whichever religion are likely to pray to figures from other religions. In Sri Lanka,
- 84% of Buddhists pray or offer respect to Ganesh.
- 57% of Buddhists pray or offer respect to Jesus Christ.
- 71% of Muslims pray or offer respect to Buddha.
- 69% of Muslims pray or offer respect to Jesus Christ.
- 61% of Christians pray or offer respect to Buddha.
- 84% of Hindus pray or offer respect to Jesus Christ.
Surprise #3: Economic Growth ≠ Religious Decline
The Pew report points out that “secularization theory” is a Western phenomenon, not an Asian one.
This theory suggests that as countries become more economically advanced and dependent on science, religion declines.
All of the countries in the survey have seen economic growth but have not seen religious decline.
Surprise #4: Conversion and Proselytising is Wrong
The majority of those in Southeast Asia say it is wrong to convert to another religious group.
This figure was highest among the Muslims. These are percentages of Muslims who felt conversion wrong in the following countries:
- Malaysia = 98%
- Thailand = 93%
- Indonesia = 92%
- Singapore = 84%
However, a large majority of Cambodian Buddhists (82%) and Indonesian Christians (83%) were also against conversion.
Persuading others to join another religion was seen as unacceptable throughout the countries surveyed. Here are some of the highest percentages of those who opposed proselytising in various religious groups:
- Sri Lankan Hindus = 91%
- Sri Lankan Christians = 87%
- Cambodian Buddhists = 86%
- Sri Lankan Buddhists = 83%
Surprise #5: More Education = More Belief in the Unseen
Often, in the West, we see a belief in the unseen as something for the uneducated. (This is probably thanks to the Enlightenment and our desire for empirical truth.) In South and Southeast Asia, this seems to be the opposite.
As a general trend in South and Southeast Asia, the higher the level of education a person has, the more likely they are to believe in an unseen world.
These are the statistics for those who believe in the unseen (such as deities and spirits):
- 63% of Indonesians with less education; and 74% with more education.
- 62% of Malaysians with less education; and 73% with more education.
- 65% of Singaporeans with less education; and 76% with more education.
- 69% of Thais with less education; and 75% with more education.
Sri Lanka and Cambodia buck this trend. In Sri Lanka, a belief in the unseen is pretty much the same between those with less and more education (55% and 56% respectively).
Cambodians with less education are more likely to believe in the unseen (73%) than those with more education (69%).
Surprise #6: Angels Not Demons
All of the 6 countries were more likely to believe in helpful deities or angels than they were to believe in demons. This was most pronounced in Thailand, where only 37% believed in demons or evil deities, whereas 80% believed in angels or helpful deities.
Once again, Cambodia was somewhat unique in the region. 72% believed in evil spirits and demons, and 73% believed in angels or helpful deities, making it a very small difference.
Protected not Attacked
The unseen powers are far more likely to protect than they are to attack. 15% of Malaysians feel protected daily by unseen powers.
However, for the most part, these unseen powers seem to have very little influence on people’s lives.
There was a strong correlation between those who pray daily and those who feel protected daily.
Therefore, people in South and Southeast Asia do not fear Spirits but rather feel protected by them.
Surprise #7: Younger people are more likely to believe in Spirits
Although the difference is slight, the younger the person is, the more likely they are to believe in the unseen.
This is the case for all countries in the survey.
Surprise #8: Only Buddhists Burn Incense… except in Sri Lanka
Buddhists in most countries across the region burn incense.
Christians and Muslims in the 6 countries surveyed, however, were unlikely to burn incense. This was unless they were from Sri Lanka. In Sri Lanka,
- 97% of Buddhists burn incense.
- 73% of Muslims burn incense.
- 62% of Christians burn incense.
- 93% of Hindus burn incense.
It seems there is a lot of incense being burned in Sri Lanka.
Surprise #9: Buddhist Tattoos are Not Okay…
In Buddhist countries, the image of Buddha is revered.
Feelings in Sri Lanka are especially strong: only 11% think that wearing Buddhist symbols or images of Buddha is acceptable. 4% think that having Buddhist tattoos is acceptable. In Sri Lanka, even Buddhist foreigners have been deported because of tattoos deemed offensive.
In most countries, tattoos that contain symbols of Buddhism or images of Buddha are deemed inappropriate for non-Buddhists.
All countries agree that visiting Buddhist temples and places of worship is acceptable for foreigners though.
Conclusion
This report has some really interesting information. It goes into far more detail than I have here. I’m grateful for research like this as it shows we live on such a diverse and interesting planet.
Justin Marsh is a missionary who has served in Asia for over six years. He is the country leader of a team of missionaries and has just completed an MA that looks at missional practice. Whilst his team works within a range of contexts across the country, Justin’s focus is the Muslim minority groups. He is the owner of the publication THE CO-MISSION.
