7. Burma (Myanmar) Today
7. Burma (Myanmar) Today
To us belongs the responsibility of continuing the work which was initiated in Judson’s times. The population of Myanmar is estimated at 46 million. The country is one of the world’s poorest nations. Myanmar became independent of Britain in 1947. Elections took place in 1990, when the opposition won 85% of the seats, but the military regime refused to hand over power. In the subsequent repression, democracy leaders were arrested, exiled, or killed.
There is freedom of religion. Buddhism is no longer the state religion. 87.8%, mainly Burmese, are Buddhist. 5.2% of the population is Protestant, and 1.3% Roman Catholic. The Baptist Convention is by far the largest denomination with 1.5 million affiliated members. Assemblies of God number 123,000. There are only 20 Protestant missionaries. All Protestant and most Roman Catholic missionaries were expelled in 1960. Missionaries working in surrounding countries number 2,313, mostly short term workers.
The fortress of Buddhism has not been broken. Buddhist revivalism is making the situation more difficult for religious minorities. The Baptist churches are mostly Arminian in doctrine and there are signs of endemic liberalism. As in most parts of the world, Reformation is an urgent need if all that has been gained in the past is not to be eroded away and lost in the future.[72]