Branee gave me a well-worn green plastic container with 3 items inside. Her instructions: “Get rid of this stuff! I don’t want it any more.” The box contained 3 gold plated charms held by a long silver chain stuffed inside individual soft white cloth bags. Believers in YoRay* use this metal charm (encased in plastic) in a ceremony for healing people from various diseases or illnesses. I asked Khun Bird, Branee’s son: “In the past as you practiced the YoRay religion to whom did you pray when using the charm to heal others?” I was curious to know if he prayed to the Japanese founder of YoRay, now deceased, or some other god. Khun Bird replied that one could pray to any god of his choosing. Followers of YoRay believe supernatural power passes through the charm producing a golden light that brings healing to those sick. Each charm cost the followers of YoRay 2000 Baht or about $69 US dollars. As requested, I did away with the charms. But notice the real commitment on the part of Branee & Bird to give up completely the old way of life for the truth in Jesus Christ. * YoRay is a religion from Japan that tries to incorporate beliefs from several religions into one. Besides healings, they ask members to paint abstract pictures to express their energized emotions and arrange flowers to give them peace of mind.
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