The Political Economy of Absorbtion and Surplus Value Used of Religious Organizations

Abstract

The objectives of this research paper were 1) to study the methods of acquiring and using the surplus benefits of religious organizations; and 2) to study the role of actors in the process of acquiring and using surplus benefits of religious organizations. This was a qualitative research. Historical qualitative research was applied as a method of study based on the conceptual framework from the political economic thinking as a guideline for analysis of 3 temples, namely Wat Ban Khanti, Wat Ban Sattha, Wat Ban Panya. The results of the research found that 1) the Buddhist Institute has an important role in Thai society leading to cultivation of attitudes, beliefs, values  causing of faith leading to the exploitation of the temple that could be divided into 2 issues, namely  seeking benefit through storytelling and trend building that led to commercial Buddhist activities. The temples were classified as a non-profit organization. The temples earned their reliance on fundraising from a variety of sources, primarily from religious donations or philanthropy. And there were various strategies for acquiring or funding under a capitalist economy starting from the production process such as goods. In terms of capitalist economy, goods would be produced because they were a source of profit. The products here are Buddhist and  superstitious beliefs, faiths  and commercial merit leading to the accumulation of economic, social and cultural capital; 2) the actors acted in the process of the exploitation and using surplus benefits from the temple found that the capital group, the civil servant class and political class would come as a driver in seeking benefits and use of benefits because these groups of people had social networks and were accepted in society.