|
Karen, Pwo Rachaburi |
| People Group: |
Karen, Pwo
Rachaburi |
 |
 |
| Location: |
Thailand |
| Population: |
2,800 |
| Religion: |
Ethnic, Buddhism,
Christianity |
| % Christian: |
12 % |
| % Evangelical: |
Unknown |
| Ministry
Resources: |
Multiple Churches |
|
|
Total People Group
Population: |
2,800 |
Other countries People
Group Linked to: |
None |
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|
Additional Information:
 The
Karen people live mostly in the hills bordering eastern region and
Irrawaddy delta of Burma, primarily in Karen State, with some in Kayah
State (Karenni State), southern Shan State (MoBye Region), Ayeyarwady
Division (Irrawaddy Division), Southern Kawthoolei (Tenasserim Coastal
Region) and in western Thailand. As with many widely-used ethnonyms —
e.g., Miao — Karen was originally applied pejoratively by
enemies. However, the term has since been claimed by the Karen
themselves as a badge of pride.
The total number of Karen is difficult to estimate. The last reliable
census of Burma was conducted in the 1930s. A 2006 VOA article cites an
estimate of seven million in Burma. There are another 400,000 Karen in
Thailand, where they are by far the largest of the hill tribes.
Karens were Animists originally, but today the majority is Buddhist
in
conjunction with Animism. The Buddhist influence came from the Mon who
were dominant in Lower Burma until the middle of the 18th century. Ko
Tha Byu, the first convert to Christianity in 1828, was baptised by Rev
George Boardman, an associate of Adoniram Judson, founder of the
American Baptist Foreign Mission Society. Persecution of Christians by
the Burmese authorities has continued to this day, fueled by the belief
that Western imperialists have sought to divide the country not only on
ethnic but on religious grounds.
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