| บทคัดย่อ(English) |
The aim of this thesis was to study the beliefs regarding Phi-pop evil spirits, or ghosts in the context of Thai Buddhist society, which affect the lives of people involved. The attitudes of Buddhism towards evil spirits was also critically analysed. A field study was conducted through the use of questionnaires and face to face interviews with villagers within the Nong Tham Noi Village and surrounding areas, Si Sa ket Province. The number of interviews totaled 100 persons. The research concludes that 83.33% of Thai Christians do not believe in Phi-Pop evil spirits which is in straight contradiction to the 73.92% of Thai Buddhists who believe in the existence of Phi-Pop evil spirits. The effects towards the life and livelihood of both the accused, the victims and would be victims has been analyzed and evaluated. The accused, tainted as being possessed by Phi-Pop evil spirits are forced to move and relocate to another village. The accused are compelled to change both their religion and livelihood, together with their life-style. In terms of daily life, the accused has to establish a new home, buy a new piece of land and find another form of livelihood from their current one. The accused develops a personal sense of fearfulness that whenever illnesses develop within the village, various people would directly point their fingers to the accused as having possessed the sick person. Family members of the accused are also fearful of the accused, as they do not know how to deal with the phenomena. Villagers have to expend substantial amounts of money in exorcising the Phi-Pop evil spirits and to prevent further evil spirit possession. The teachings of Buddhism can be utilize to provide a viable solution to the Phi-Pop evil sprits phenomena through educating the villagers of the reality of the different realms of existence and the means to a peaceful co-existence and appeasement. |
