Abstract:
This thesis is a study and analysis of development theories of the Thai Catholic Church after the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council (1962-1965). In order to understand and analyze those development theories, this thesis relies on (1) Mainstream development theories, (2) Catholic human and social development approach, (3) Development ideas and results of the Thai state, (4) The Intellectual and the Prophet, and (5) Prescriptivist development theories, as a framework for research.The thesis finds out that development theories of the Thai Catholic Churchafter the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council followed the paradigm of human development and were adjusted in accordance with the religion and culture of each community. These theories reflected unique characteristics of the social work of Thai Catholic intellectuals who became members of communities and brought the principles of The Second Vatican Ecumenical Council into practice.In addition,development theories of the Thai Catholic Church were the results of the cooperation between the Catholic Church and Thai Catholic Intellectuals. This cooperation gave opportunities to the intellectuals to construct development models based on cultures of Thai Society, instead of the Church forcing a rigid model of development upon Thai communities without the perception and recognition of the communities. In such a process, an open-minded attitude of the Catholic Church and the roles of communitys organic intellectuals are highly necessary