History of Shan Churches in Burma 1861-2001 - Khamkoo

Analysis 201
Dr. Henderson reported in 1894 from MuongNai, “The work here is sowing but we sow in great
hope for while superstition and idolatry meet us everywhere yet the promises of our Master are sure.
We meet the grossest superstition at every turn, once or twice we have found them saying charms over
their medicine and one old man who had been relieved when we went to speak to him about God said
he did not know God but he would worship me for he thought I must be God.” 24
Dr. Henderson reported in 1895, “Some person professes to have heard from one of the Phe
(spirits, some good, but mostly bad) that there was so much of this Jesus Christ religion being preached
that they (the Phe) were going to leave. Two of the Idols also feel it so keenly that they are said to be
sweating from the same cause. This is another version of “even the devils are subject unto us.” In this
connection it may interest you to hear my opinion of the character of the Shan, bearing in mind
however that I have lived here only one year. Of course they are horribly superstitious, everything they
cannot understand is ascribed to Phe.” 25
It was reported in 1963 that the Shan were complacent and slow to change. They had a religion
of their own - Buddhism mixed with Phe (spirit being) worship. Unless they were sick, diseased or
troubled or possessed by evil spirits, they seldom seek help from pastors or missionaries and conversion
was not easy. If any one possessed with evil spirit he was warned by community to do away with the
spirit and if one was unable to do so, he would be driven out of the village. He usually found refuge in a
Christian village where the pastor and the elders, in the name of Jesus Christ, would drive out the evil
spirit or heal mental or bodily disease that was cursed by evil spirit. After which the afflicted person
usually accepted Christ and freed from the evil spirit and settled down in Christian community. It is
interesting to hear a man said that he believed that Christianity was true but he was ashamed to embrace
it. He may not be ashamed of Jesus who was hung on the cross but he may be ashamed of being a Shan
to embrace Christianity. Shan use to claim that Buddhism is Shan’s religion and Shan are Buddhist.
Present
Hundred of thousands of pagodas are all over the country. There is almost no town without
pagoda or no village without monastery. There are four million pagoda in Burma, the highest number of
pagoda in the world. There is a pagoda on almost every top of the hill. Shan have adopted Buddhism as
their religion for almost two thousand years. Shan claim that Buddhism is their religion. They have
taken ownership of Buddhism. Traditionally Shan are Buddhists but they also believe in all kinds of
spirits, both good and evil, and offer sacrifices to them to appease them and to get help from them. Shan
are not fanatic but devoted Buddhists. Even though they claim to be Buddhists some are Buddhists by
tradition. Many do not know much about Buddhism. Some are also superstitious. They are willing to
listen to the story of other religions. Shan see Christianity as a new religion from the West and do not
want to accept it. Shan are also nationalistic.
A few years ago I presented gospel of Jesus Christ to 65-year-old Buddhist woman. When I
finished my gospel presentation, I asked her questions. “Do you agree that you cannot go to heaven by
your own effort?” She said, “Yes.” Then I asked second question, “Do you believe that Jesus Christ is
God and He can save you to heaven?” She answered, “Yes.” My final question was, “Do you want to
receive Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and become Christian?” She said, “No.” She explained that
she had been worshiping Buddha for 65 years. All her generations were Buddhists. She did not want to
leave Buddha and follow new God at this age. She just wanted to be faithful to her religion. She was
willing to add another hope for her future. That is Buddhist by tradition. Traditionally they have their
own way of worshiping gods, spirits, paying homage to elders and parents, marriages and burial etc. In
Christian opinion these traditions are Buddhist practices. Once a person becomes Christian he has to
abandon all his previous practices what they call their “national culture.” How can we solve this
24 Report from A.H. Henderson, M.D. MuongNai, July 4, 1894, The American Baptist Missionary Magazine.
25 81st Annual Report, 1895, Baptist Missionary Union.