Ignorance of Religion and Its Impact on Intellectual Excess in Southern Thailand: A Field Study

Abstract

The southern Thai community is different from the other Thai states. It is a Malay society, meaning that its population is of Malay people living on the islands of Southeast Asia, such as the well-known Malay states of Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei, sharing unified language, religion, and lifestyles. Because the southern part of Thailand dwellers are predominantly Muslims, the presence of non-Muslims living in the region, embracing religions other than Islam, and spreading their cultures and religion are of the main reasons for differences, inconsistencies and co-existence issues between Muslims and others.The problem is that some Muslims, due to ignorance, religious extremism and thought, the society of southern Thailand has become divided, sectarian and is in conflict with one another. These phenomena have adversely impacted the arena of preaching, scientific and educational domains. Hence this research explores and reveals these issues and develops solutions and treatment appropriate to them.