Religion
In the United States, religion seems to be viewed commonly as a certain set of beliefs that one claims to hold, and often one demonstrates his beliefs by attending a weekly religious service. For the Vietnamese however, their religion is essentially a way of life. Although the majority of Vietnamese might be called Buddhists, the Vietnamese themselves do not give a specific name to their religious practice. In fact, the Vietnamese tend to mix teachings from a variety of different religions, including the following: Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Roman Catholicism, Cao Dai, Hoa Hao, Islam, Protestantism, and Animism (Gale Encyclopedia of Multicultural America, Vol. 3). Of those religions, the Vietnamese are most heavily influenced by Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism. Vietnamese society and the everyday philosophy of the Vietnamese is based specifically on the theories of reincarnation and the law of moral retribution from Buddhism, the concept of harmony from Taoism, and the ethical and social principles for the family and government from Confucianism (Rutledge 47). Here are some specific concepts that are a fundamental part of this philosophy:
-Human nature is essentially good, but people can be corrupted.
-There is a certain harmony between man and nature.
-In terms of "time orientation," the Vietnamese are said to be living with the past; thus, reverence of ancestors is important.
-"Being-in-becoming;" in other words, life is cyclical, it is something that flows without end; our existence is therefore a process of changing, moving, and growing into something; it is not at all static (Rutledge, 155).
Essentially, Vietnamese religious beliefs encourage a sense of connection between man and the environment, an understanding of the importance of family and community and knowing one's place there, fidelity to one's family, and acting with humility and dignity toward all life.
Among the Vietnamese refugee communities in the United States, the Catholic Church has a fairly strong presence, in that it does a significant amount of proselytizing. There is some tension, or at the least a sense of hesitation, in terms of interaction between Catholics and Buddhists (interview with Tom Doan).
Cultural Diversity
