Religion in today’s society
The Mongols have held beliefs about the supernatural and spiritual since ancient times.
The great Chingis Khan himself stated “We Mongols believe that there is but one Heaven by whom we live and by whom we die.” Religion has played many parts in Mongolian politics, culture and society throughout history.
Today Mongolian independence and democracy makes it possible for the Mongol people to be exposed to many forms of religions, and recent years has shown the steady rise of varies religious communities, the most dominating of which are Christianity and Shamanism. Since religion deals with beliefs and principles which govern our lives, I think it is important to know what effects religious beliefs have on individuals and society.
What is the religious status of Mongolia today?
Statistics show that Mongolian Buddhism and the country's traditions are closely tied, and while 26.5 percent of the population are atheists, 59.7 percent of religious Mongolians practice some form of Buddhism.
Lamaist Buddhism (and within it the Gelugpa school) is the traditional and dominant religion.
When socialist controls on religion and on the country's traditions ended in 1990, interest in the practice of Buddhism grew.
Kazakhs, most of whom are Muslim, are the largest ethnic minority, constituting approximately 4 percent of the population nationwide and 85 percent in the western province, Bayan-Ulgii. Kazakhs operate Islamic schools for their children. They sometimes receive financial assistance from religious organizations in Kazakhstan and Turkey.
There are a small number of Christians, including Roman Catholics, Russian Orthodox and Protestants. In the capital, Ulaanbaatar, approximately 30,000 citizens, or 3 percent of the registered population of the city, practice Christianity.
A few citizens practice shamanism, but usually are not open about it. The majority of these people reside in the countryside. There are also small communities of Bahaisand Ananda Marga in Ulaanbaatar.
A Brief history of Religion of Mongolia.
Shamanism was the major religion during both the ancient Mongol states and the Mongol Empire until Tibetan Buddhism gained more popularity after it was introduced in 13th century. Tibetan Buddhism shared the common Buddhist goals of individual release from suffering and reincarnation. Tibet’s Dalai Lama, who lives in India, is the religion’s spiritual leader, and is highly respected in Mongolia.
Buddhism was introduced to Mongolia from Tibet by Khubilai Khaan during the late 13th century. Khubilai Khaan invited an eminent Tibetan lama, Pagba, to be empire’s religious representative.
From the late 14th century onwards, hundreds of Buddhist temples were rapidly built across Mongolia. Thousands of Mongolian males vowed to live as lamas at one point almost one seventh of the male population has taken robes. Until the beginning of the twentieth century Buddhism developed and spread across the country, playing an important role on both religions and intellectual spheres of life.
The 1921 People’s Revolution swiftly installed a socialist regime, which officially prohibited any religious practice. During the 1930’s political purges resulted in the destruction of more than 700 temples and the death of around 10.000 lamas. It wasn’t until the early 1990’s that, as part of the rise of democracy, Buddhism was revived as Mongolia’s major religion.
In October 1996, Gandan hosted a massive opening ceremony for its newly installed 25 meter high, 60 ton Megjid Janraisag statue, which is the symbol of the revival of Buddhism in Mongolia. The statue’s name translates as “the all seeing Lord”. Meanwhile Mongolia’s Kazakhs are Muslims. Islam is mainly practiced in Bayan Olgii, the most westerly province in Mongolia. Since the mid nineties large number of Christians, Bahais and Mormons have arrived in Mongolia seeking to convent Mongolians from Buddhism to their various faiths.
Shamanism
Shamanism has become popular in recent years, due to the commercialisation of it being the great Chingis Khan’s religion and the oldest Mongolian religion.
Researcher MirceaEliade describes shamanism as "technique of religious ecstasy".Shamanism encompasses the belief that shamans are intermediaries or messengers between the human world and the spirit worlds.
Shamans are said to treat ailments/illness by mending the soul. Alleviating traumas affecting the soul/spirit restores the physical body of the individual to balance and wholeness.
The shaman also enters supernatural realms or dimensions to obtain solutions to problems afflicting the community. Shamans may visit other worlds/dimensions to bring guidance to misguided souls and to ameliorate illnesses of the human soul caused by foreign elements. The shaman operates primarily within the spiritual world, which in turn affects the human world. The restoration of balance results in the elimination of the ailment.
Numbers of people claiming to be shamans have increased since the liberation from communism in 1990. There have been reports of people getting injured and even of death, while the shaman was performing their rituals. In ancient times people used to give sacrifices such material possessions, live stock and even human life. For example,in the year 1231 Uguudei khan launched conquest of Northern China, but he became ill and lost his speech. Shamans and fortune teller claimed: “you raged the local land spirit and they demand noble blood.”
One son of Chingghis khan, Tolui heard this and volunteered to give his life as a sacrifice for his brother’s life. After the sacrifice of Tolui, Uguudei khan gained back his health and returned to his conquest of Northern China.
What are the influences of religion on Mongolian society today?
The most devoted religious group of people in Mongolia are the elderly. The Tsagaan sar festival is not only the lunar New Year, but it also has great religious significance. TheTsagaan sar festival is filled with religious rituals mixed with traditional customs, such as “Mur gargah” or starting a new path (which is uniquely performed according to the year of birth), and “zolgoh” or the meeting of younger and elder family members.
However, the majority of young people in Mongolia seem to be unconcerned with religion. When asked about their religious status, they usually reply, “I’m not religious,” or “There are so many religions that I don’t know what to believe.” One could say they are agnostic, atheist, or both. Hence, religion plays little part in their daily lives.
As for Christianity, although Christian communities are rising in numbers exponentially each year, they are still a minority. Mongols generally were tolerant of the beliefs of others. Because past humanitarian assistance was accompanied by proselytizing, there was some friction between foreign Christian missionary groups and citizens. Some social conservatives have criticized foreign influences on youth and children, including foreign religions and the alleged use of material incentives to attract converts.There have recently been concerns about missionaries working mainly as English teachers and seeking to convent in and outside of classrooms.
Thankfully, religion plays no part in Mongolian politics.
Overall, the Mongolian people seem to be respectful and tolerant of the beliefs of others because there has not been any observable social division, discrimination or prejudices against people of particular faith, or those without.
The great Chingis Khan himself stated “We Mongols believe that there is but one Heaven by whom we live and by whom we die.” Religion has played many parts in Mongolian politics, culture and society throughout history.
Today Mongolian independence and democracy makes it possible for the Mongol people to be exposed to many forms of religions, and recent years has shown the steady rise of varies religious communities, the most dominating of which are Christianity and Shamanism. Since religion deals with beliefs and principles which govern our lives, I think it is important to know what effects religious beliefs have on individuals and society.
What is the religious status of Mongolia today?
Statistics show that Mongolian Buddhism and the country's traditions are closely tied, and while 26.5 percent of the population are atheists, 59.7 percent of religious Mongolians practice some form of Buddhism.
Lamaist Buddhism (and within it the Gelugpa school) is the traditional and dominant religion.
When socialist controls on religion and on the country's traditions ended in 1990, interest in the practice of Buddhism grew.
Kazakhs, most of whom are Muslim, are the largest ethnic minority, constituting approximately 4 percent of the population nationwide and 85 percent in the western province, Bayan-Ulgii. Kazakhs operate Islamic schools for their children. They sometimes receive financial assistance from religious organizations in Kazakhstan and Turkey.
There are a small number of Christians, including Roman Catholics, Russian Orthodox and Protestants. In the capital, Ulaanbaatar, approximately 30,000 citizens, or 3 percent of the registered population of the city, practice Christianity.
A few citizens practice shamanism, but usually are not open about it. The majority of these people reside in the countryside. There are also small communities of Bahaisand Ananda Marga in Ulaanbaatar.
A Brief history of Religion of Mongolia.
Shamanism was the major religion during both the ancient Mongol states and the Mongol Empire until Tibetan Buddhism gained more popularity after it was introduced in 13th century. Tibetan Buddhism shared the common Buddhist goals of individual release from suffering and reincarnation. Tibet’s Dalai Lama, who lives in India, is the religion’s spiritual leader, and is highly respected in Mongolia.
Buddhism was introduced to Mongolia from Tibet by Khubilai Khaan during the late 13th century. Khubilai Khaan invited an eminent Tibetan lama, Pagba, to be empire’s religious representative.
From the late 14th century onwards, hundreds of Buddhist temples were rapidly built across Mongolia. Thousands of Mongolian males vowed to live as lamas at one point almost one seventh of the male population has taken robes. Until the beginning of the twentieth century Buddhism developed and spread across the country, playing an important role on both religions and intellectual spheres of life.
The 1921 People’s Revolution swiftly installed a socialist regime, which officially prohibited any religious practice. During the 1930’s political purges resulted in the destruction of more than 700 temples and the death of around 10.000 lamas. It wasn’t until the early 1990’s that, as part of the rise of democracy, Buddhism was revived as Mongolia’s major religion.
In October 1996, Gandan hosted a massive opening ceremony for its newly installed 25 meter high, 60 ton Megjid Janraisag statue, which is the symbol of the revival of Buddhism in Mongolia. The statue’s name translates as “the all seeing Lord”. Meanwhile Mongolia’s Kazakhs are Muslims. Islam is mainly practiced in Bayan Olgii, the most westerly province in Mongolia. Since the mid nineties large number of Christians, Bahais and Mormons have arrived in Mongolia seeking to convent Mongolians from Buddhism to their various faiths.
Shamanism
Shamanism has become popular in recent years, due to the commercialisation of it being the great Chingis Khan’s religion and the oldest Mongolian religion.
Researcher MirceaEliade describes shamanism as "technique of religious ecstasy".Shamanism encompasses the belief that shamans are intermediaries or messengers between the human world and the spirit worlds.
Shamans are said to treat ailments/illness by mending the soul. Alleviating traumas affecting the soul/spirit restores the physical body of the individual to balance and wholeness.
The shaman also enters supernatural realms or dimensions to obtain solutions to problems afflicting the community. Shamans may visit other worlds/dimensions to bring guidance to misguided souls and to ameliorate illnesses of the human soul caused by foreign elements. The shaman operates primarily within the spiritual world, which in turn affects the human world. The restoration of balance results in the elimination of the ailment.
Numbers of people claiming to be shamans have increased since the liberation from communism in 1990. There have been reports of people getting injured and even of death, while the shaman was performing their rituals. In ancient times people used to give sacrifices such material possessions, live stock and even human life. For example,in the year 1231 Uguudei khan launched conquest of Northern China, but he became ill and lost his speech. Shamans and fortune teller claimed: “you raged the local land spirit and they demand noble blood.”
One son of Chingghis khan, Tolui heard this and volunteered to give his life as a sacrifice for his brother’s life. After the sacrifice of Tolui, Uguudei khan gained back his health and returned to his conquest of Northern China.
What are the influences of religion on Mongolian society today?
The most devoted religious group of people in Mongolia are the elderly. The Tsagaan sar festival is not only the lunar New Year, but it also has great religious significance. TheTsagaan sar festival is filled with religious rituals mixed with traditional customs, such as “Mur gargah” or starting a new path (which is uniquely performed according to the year of birth), and “zolgoh” or the meeting of younger and elder family members.
However, the majority of young people in Mongolia seem to be unconcerned with religion. When asked about their religious status, they usually reply, “I’m not religious,” or “There are so many religions that I don’t know what to believe.” One could say they are agnostic, atheist, or both. Hence, religion plays little part in their daily lives.
As for Christianity, although Christian communities are rising in numbers exponentially each year, they are still a minority. Mongols generally were tolerant of the beliefs of others. Because past humanitarian assistance was accompanied by proselytizing, there was some friction between foreign Christian missionary groups and citizens. Some social conservatives have criticized foreign influences on youth and children, including foreign religions and the alleged use of material incentives to attract converts.There have recently been concerns about missionaries working mainly as English teachers and seeking to convent in and outside of classrooms.
Thankfully, religion plays no part in Mongolian politics.
Overall, the Mongolian people seem to be respectful and tolerant of the beliefs of others because there has not been any observable social division, discrimination or prejudices against people of particular faith, or those without.
Hello,
ReplyDeleteThe role of religion in today's society is to help heal the individual. It plays in society is evidence by all the animosity, bigotry and intolerance in the world today. Thanks a lot...