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Cao Dai

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Religion

The Resume

    (October 7, 1926- )
    Born in Tây Ninh, Vietnam
    Full name is Đại Đạo Tam Kỳ Phổ Độ, meaning 'The Great Faith for the Third Universal Redemption'
    Name means 'Highest Lord' or 'Highest Power' in Vietnamese
    Has about 4-6 million adherents worldwide
    Derives ethical precepts from Confucianism, occult practices from Taoism and western spiritism, and theories of karma and rebirth from Buddhism
    Hierarchy based on the Roman Catholic Church, including a pope
    Scriptures include 'Prayers of the Heavenly and the Earthly Way', 'The Religious Constitution of the Cao Đài Religion', 'The Canonical Codes', and 'Divine Path to Eternal Life'
    A colonial administrator named Ngô Văn Chiêu became its prophet when he claimed to have received a communication from its supreme deity during a séance (1919)
    Formalized into a religion when a group of 27 adherents led by Lê Văn Trung signed the 'Declaration of the Founding of the Cao Dai Religion'

Why Cao Dai might be annoying:

    Many of its saints taught and believed in different, even conflicting views. (For example, Muhammad preached monotheism while Buddha preached that thinking about the existence of God is a waste of time.)
    Its priests practiced séances until the Vietnamese government banned it in the 1970s.
    Followers are expected to practice vegetarianism at least ten days per month because they believe that doing so purifies one's body and spirit.
    Women are barred from the two highest positions, the Legislative Cardinal and the Pope, because letting Yin (which represents female) dominate Yang (which represents male) will result in chaos.
    Sects that have broken away from the Tây Ninh Holy See have accused the Vietnamese government of undermining its independence through interference.

Why Cao Dai might not be annoying:

    Its members were active in the Vietnamese war of independence.
    It first suffered persecution under Ngo Dinh Diem, who exiled its pope and disbanded its army, and then by Vietnam's communist regime after the fall of Saigon.
    Despite barring women from the two highest positions in its hierarchy, it stresses gender equality in society.
    Its Holy See is a major tourist attraction in Vietnam.
    Like any decent religion, it promotes peace and tolerance regardless of minor differences.

Credit: Big Lenny


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 17 Votes: 52.94% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 6 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 22 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 12 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 20 Votes: 50.0% Annoying