Message from aschleicher

[Anonymous]

Professor Janet Hoskins gave a presentation on the "indigenous" religions of Vietnam and how those religions moved to the U.S., the historical background, and the growing popularity of the religions in California. Statistics make it difficult to truly understand religion in Vietnam, especially the numbers related to indigenous religion mainly because of political correctness. Religion is identified on the Vietnamese ID card, and there are people who leave it blank, or put Buddhist even though they are not practicing Buddhists. Professor Hoskins says that the Communist Party in Vietnam currently allows religions to exist. Professor Hoskins academic focus is on the faith of Caodaism and Dao Mau.

Caodaism brings European religion and Asian religion together into one. Caodaism is practiced in California and the faithful are growing in numbers in the Southern California region. Dao Mau is also growing in popularity in the Southern California area, and it is more focused female divinities and its specific rituals are becoming more developed. The diaspora of the Vietnamese people allows for traditional local religions to spread, and to maintain a "connectedness" with the homeland on behalf of spiritual followers. It is not therefore, and export, but the religion connects the diaspora to their indigenous roots. An interesting take on Asian religious practices and how those practices move to other countries. This study could be part of a religion unit with specific focus on the movement of indigenous religions and the connection to the greater Los Angeles region.