Questions of values, belief, and culture

Wednesday evening Bung, Nuk, Jit, Tuk, and I had a thoughtful conversation. Four questions were especially interesting. "Do I believe in spirits of the dead trying to contact the living?", "What religion am I?", and "What do I think of the Thai family culture with everybody living together?" and "Do our children have an expectation of taking care of their parents?"

I know that many people from Thailand believe in spirits and "ghosts". When Sutep died I can to see the respect people have for spirits. Even now Suriwan leaves tea and food for Sutep. I believe and respect that peoples experiences are real. I want to understand that experience. I, though, am afflicted with a scientific pre-disposition. So I believe in the experience, but do not have evidence of the fact.

I am in fact, Christian, I was raised that way, and have spent much time thinking about and experiencing Christianity. The question though is hard to answer, because so much of what is done in Thailand and Cambodia in the name of Christianity is embarrassing. I believe in the greatest commandment, love God and do on to others as you would have them do onto you. As it says in the Bible all the commandments are based on these two greatest commandments. I also believe in St. Augustine's idea of ordered love. If we do not love God or a higher power we can be dangerous to ourselves and to others. My answer was that I was a little bit Christian, which is probably true from some peoples perspective.

Thai family life and American family life are very different. I have worked hard to support my both my daughter's individuality and independence. It makes me proud and happy to see them fly on their own. I do not expect them to support me unless my health fails and I have not other choice. These are beliefs of my culture. On the other hand seeing Thai culture work, seeing people care for each other in an extended family, and seeing the elders and children supporting each other, makes me realize some of the human community that we miss in the United States. I only have a very superficial understanding of Thai culture, but from what I have read and seen it seems like a very healthy way to live.

I love conversations and questions like these