A Comparative Study of the Forms of Propagation of Buddhism and Islam in Phetchabun Province

Abstract

     This research paper is to comparatively study the form of the propagation of Buddhism and Islam in Petchabun province. This study is of mixed method research, by using qualitative research and documentary research.

      The results of this study were found that The form of propagation of Buddhism and Islam in Petchabun province, by studying in three categories: 1) education and welfare education-- organizing for training children and youths, 2) public welfare—setting up field hospitals for the Kovit inflected ones, and 3) Dhamma practice –in Khao Kho district, there are many places for dhamma practice, having center for Camp Son Development of Mahachulalongkornrajvidyalaya University as the center. For Islam, there are form of propagation as well, namely, 1) education and welfare education—cultivating of Islam to the devotees form the childhood, 2) public welfare—having public welfare or helping others as called ‘zakat’, and 3) practice—religious leaders have the important role in supporting of self-practice based on the teaching of religion from the childhood. on the education, both religions have the similar point for having the doctrines that teach for understanding and be able to practice for living happily, on the public welfare both religions have similarity in helping but they have difference that Buddhism will go the help immediately, whereas Islam would consider which one that math with the need of the receivers, but on the practice, Buddhism has the freedom of teaching or propagation only one who are interested, but Islam has very strict form of propagation by ordering all devotees to practice according to the provision strictly.