Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Cambodia opens 17th annual Congress of Religion

PHNOM PENH, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia on Wednesday opened the two-day 17th annual Congress of Religion in Phnom Penh to monitor the improvement of morality and behavior in the religious field and its role for reducing poverty.

"The religion field has contributed strongly to the social and political stability of the country and helped the society improve its morality, environment and poverty reduction," said Senate President Chea Sim at the opening ceremony.

"From now on, there is a good chance for us that we all join together to keep the peace and harmony of the country and stick to non-violent way to advance the society," he added.

Meanwhile, Minister of Cults and Religious Affairs Min Khin said that Cambodia not only takes care of Buddhism which is the major religion of the country, but also other sects.

Cambodia has 4,307 Buddhist pagodas with 55,583 monks, 4 Buddhist universities and 12 Buddhist high schools, he said.

The kingdom also has 320,167 Muslims with 244 mosques and 333 Islamist schools, some 800,000 Christians and about 20,000 people with other religious believes, he added.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Under Min Khin and his wife era, the staffs of this ministry not yet draw their salary for November.

Crazy

Anonymous said...

I think the number of Muslims is much larger than stated by the minister, probably about twice.

If I am not mistaken, "Islamist" is a term that refers to Islam fundamentalism. Suggesting there are "333" such schools really is not very helpful. What he meant was Islamic or Muslim schools I hope. Finally, the number of people with "other" religious believes is much larger, even just the number of hill tribe members following forms of Animism.

www.elgc.org

Anonymous said...

333 Islamic School for whom ? All Cambodian Children must have the same educational system.

Anonymous said...

With 55,583 monks living 4,307 pagodas across the country, Cambodia has a formidable army of morals teachers if these monks were to learn, practice and teach Buddhist ethics.
Buddhist monks should not be asked to hekp fight poverty when they have chosen to live in poverty and on other people's charity.
It would be wiser to ask Buddhist monks to embark upon moral regeneration in Cambodian society and go out of their pagodas to disseminate Buddhist ethics to help prevent vices and crimes which are ravaging this society at the moment.
Can any society live in peace and harmony without morality?
Buddhism is a religion of ethics. It is charatesied by its moralism. (Hindouim or Bramanism is charaterised by ceremonialism. Perhaps Cambodian Buddhism is more Hindou than Buddhist since in practice it pays more attention to ceremonies than to morality).

LAO Mong Hay, Hong Kong

Anonymous said...

REMEMBER PREAH VIHEAR............WAKE UP HUNSEN

Anonymous said...

REMEMBER PREAH VIHEAR............WAKE UP HUNSEN

Anonymous said...

REMEMBER PREAH VIHEAR............WAKE UP HUNSEN

Anonymous said...

REMEMBER PREAH VIHEAR............WAKE UP HUNSEN

Anonymous said...

REMEMBER PREAH VIHEAR............WAKE UP HUNSEN

Anonymous said...

REMEMBER PREAH VIHEAR............WAKE UP HUNSEN

Anonymous said...

CAMBODIA MUST SEEK UN SECURITY COUNCIL FOR HELP!!!

CAMBODIA MUST INFORM WORLD COURT ABOUT THAILAND'S VIOLATION OF THE 1962 ICJ DECISION ON PREAH VIHEAR.

CAMBODIA MUST ASK FOR UN PEACEKEEPING TROOPS AGAINST THAI AGGRESSION.

CAMBODIA MUST NOT WASTE ANY MORE TIME...PROLONGING THAI OCCUPATION OF 4.6 KM2 OF PREAH VIHEAR AREA = LOST OF KHMER TERRITORY!!

WAKE UP HUN SEN!!!!!

KHMER PEOPLE MUST UNITE AND EXPELL ALL FOREIGNERS OUT OF CAMBODIA.

LAND THAT THAI STOLE FROM CAMBODIA IN BROAD DAY LIGHT = PREAH VIHEAR, POIPET, TA MOAN, TA KRABEI...WE MUST PROTEST GOOGLE, WIKIPEDIA ONLINE SATELLITE MAP TO COMPLY WITH 1904-07 FRANCO-SIAMESE TREATY AND UN MAP, NOT THAI-MADE MAP!!!

MAY THE SPIRIT OF OUR GREAT KING JAYAVARMAN VII PROTECT OUR KHMER NATION!!!

Anonymous said...

Try not to use this word in the public at this day: EXPELL ALL FOREIGNERS OUT OF CAMBODIA. This means that we are Cambodia are Raciam. Because Human Rights Standard, any person can live in any country. Like a lots Khmers are living abroad also.

Please find ways to talk differences. Like what these FOREIGNERS did wrong while living in CAMBODIA. Arrest and deport them if they did not obey Cambodian Laws. OK thank You. Merry Christmas!