Caodaism
Caodaism is the third largest religion in Vietnam. Caodai refers to the high palace where God reigns. The word is also used as God's symbolic name. This is a syncretistic religion which combines elements from many of the world's main religions. Their main centre is Tay Ninh whish is about 60 miles North of Saigon. There are currebtly 8 million followers in Vietnam and 30,000 elsewhere. The religion divides its history into three periods of revelation. The first was in 2500 BCE which is the approximate time of the founding of Judaism, Hinduism and the philosophy of transformation in China. The second is about 500 BCE when God started Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, and Christianity. They believe that the truth became distorted in each of these religions and thus led to the forming of a number of religions, but most flourished only in or near their countries of origin. They believe that each religion became adapted to the need of individual cultures., and that limitation in communication prevented the possibility of a universalally accepted religion which God wanted to establish. Thus, God being concerned about the multiplicity of religions which prevented people from living in harmony, initiated a third revelation in which he communicated Caodaism by spirited means. Ngo Van Chieu, a civil servant of the Cochinchina government began to receive messages from a spirit called Duc Cao Dai, whom he believed was God. After three years of studying and worshipping God, he shared his spiritual discoveries with others in Saigon. At the end of 1926 CE, this spirit instructed a small group of mediums to found a new religion. One of the mediums, Le Van Trung was named by God to be acting Giao Tong (Pope). Caodaism was formally founded on Sept 26, 1926 by a group of 247 disciples. The followers of this religion believe that spiritism is the means through which God chose to transmit this new faith system. A mechanical device is often used as a communication between spirit beings and humans. The Caodaists believe that God in the beginning was formless, nameless, unchangeable and omnipotent. They believe that he divided his spirit into many parts and created the universe of which all comprises the spirit of God. Animals and humans have a spirit which is part of God's spirit, and a soul which is responsible for emotions and personality. Caodaists believe in the cycle of reincarnation and liberation from the cycle by cultivating and finding God in self. Members of the religion are instructed in their responsibilites to self, family, society, and all of humanity. An ascetic life is promoted. Caodaists worship and adore God, venerate Superior spirits and worship ancestors. There are two sects within Caoidaism. Exoterism in which one's duties are to practice good, show kindness to all sentient beings, follow the Confucian three deities and five virtues. There also is Esoterism practiced by the Chieu-Minh Vo Vi sectt which practices meditation, eradication of the inferior self . At their altar, Caodaists worship God as symbolized by the Divine Eye. They have leders of each religion representing that religion which sows the element of syncretism. They venerate statues of the Lords of the Earth which represent Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism. They recognize three saints, San Yet Sen who is leader of the Chinese Revolution of 1911, Victor Hugo the French poet, and Trang Triinh the Vietnamese poet and prophet. Followers are expected to pray at least once a day during one of the 6 or 12 o'clock hours. They eat a vegetarian diet at least 10 days a month.. They do not kill living beings, do not lie, do not commit adultery, do not get drunk, or do not sin by word. They contain nine ranks of members which incluide Pope, Censor Cardinal, Cardinal, Archbishop, Bishop, Priest, Student Priest, Subdignitaries and Followers. Women are limited to the level of Cardinal or below.
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