Religion - an important subject of study in Vietnam and the world

Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Thi Kim Oanh - Head of the Department of Religious Studies, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU, shared: "Knowledge about religion and beliefs is extremely rich, vibrant and closely linked to our cultural, economic and social life. It is a source that nourishes the ideology and spiritual world of people, helping us understand the origin and identity of our community and nation.

In addition, modern social life is seeing the emergence of new religious and belief phenomena that require explanation and evaluation from the perspective of Religious Science. Therefore, this is an important field of study in Vietnam as well as in the world and society is in great need of a team of university graduates with in-depth knowledge and skills in Religious Studies."

Understanding religion also helps each individual improve their understanding and behavior with spiritual culture and religious culture in life.

The Central Domain of Spiritual Life

Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Thi Kim Oanh - Head of the Department of Religious Studies, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU, said that Religion is a form of social consciousness, a social entity, and a need of a part of humanity. Religion is also a part of social consciousness and at the same time has a cultural and conservative nature, so the development of religion is very complicated.

Vietnam is a multi-ethnic, multi-religious country. Most forms of religion from ancient to modern, from East to West are present in Vietnam. The existence and development of religion affects and influences all aspects of economic, political, cultural and social life.

According to current estimates, 95% of our country's population has a religious life. The country currently has nearly 8,000 festivals, including more than 7,000 folk festivals, 332 revolutionary historical festivals, 544 religious festivals, 10 festivals imported from abroad and more than 40 other festivals.

Regarding religion, there are currently 14 religions and 42 religious organizations recognized and granted registration for operation by the State. According to incomplete statistics, the 14 religions have about 24 million followers, more than 83,000 dignitaries, more than 250,000 officials, 46 religious dignitary training facilities, and more than 25,000 places of worship.

In our country, freedom of belief and religion is one of the human rights, the basic rights of citizens stipulated by the Constitution and is of interest to the Party and State, which promulgate many policies to recognize, respect, protect and ensure its implementation.

The Party and the State also identify religious affairs as a strategic issue of great significance in the cause of national construction and defense, in the process of implementing democracy, ensuring human rights, and the basic rights and obligations of citizens. In 2016, the Law on Belief and Religion was enacted to help institutionalize the Party's viewpoints and the Constitution to ensure freedom of belief and religion for all citizens.

Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Thi Kim Oanh shared: "Religious studies is an interdisciplinary field and a core field in the cultural and spiritual life of society. Cultural flows and religions in the world easily penetrate into Vietnam due to favorable geographical and historical conditions, contributing to the diversity of beliefs and religions. Beliefs and religions in Vietnam are characterized by fusion, interweaving and harmony with each other.

In which, traditional beliefs reflect the rich and diverse spiritual life, tolerance, generosity, kindness of Vietnamese people and the spirit of national solidarity.

These are the factors that make it easy for Vietnamese people to integrate with many different beliefs and religions. In addition, each belief and religion, although having its own distinct cultural features, are all influenced by national traditions, contributing to creating beautiful features in the diverse culture, rich in national identity.

Beliefs about beliefs and religions are hidden in worldviews and ideologies, affecting the way people perceive society and the world, and the decisions they make every day. The Vietnamese people have made strong marks in economic, political, and social life through their own beliefs and religious activities.

According to Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Thi Kim Oanh, such an important and large field with such influence needs a team of people with basic training and deep expertise in beliefs and religions to participate directly or indirectly in State management activities on beliefs and religions in accordance with the Constitution and laws of the Vietnamese State and respect for international treaties. Knowledge of Religious Studies also has wide applications in social fields such as culture, spirituality, art, literature, music, business, etc.

 Which universities offer a BA in Religious Studies?

Religious Studies is currently taught at institutions such as: University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU-HCM, Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, Hanoi Pedagogical University 1, People's Security University, School of Professional Affairs of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs, Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences... However, the Department of Religious Studies under the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU-Hanoi is currently the only unit in the country that trains Religious Studies at the undergraduate level.

Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Thi Kim Oanh informed that the Bachelor of Religious Studies program equips students with basic, systematic knowledge of religion, beliefs and basic knowledge of interdisciplinary sciences associated with Religious Studies; ensuring scientific, modern and ideological qualities to help students achieve a basic understanding of religious and belief phenomena in history and the present.

The Department of Religious Studies researches and trains from an interdisciplinary perspective and is oriented towards three specialized directions:Theory and history of religious studies; Beliefs, world religions and Vietnam; Religion and social life.

The first major focuses on studying the theory of Religious Studies to reflect on religious practice. The main subjects include:General theory of religion and belief, Philosophy of religion, Religion, belief and festivals, Viewpoints of the Party and State on religious issues, Law on belief and religion, Non-Marxist views on religion, Religion in the process of building socialism in Vietnam, Religion in the context of globalization and current social issues...

The second major aims to identify the characteristics of major beliefs and religions in Vietnam and the world, from the perspectives of religious consciousness, worship, organizational structure... As a multi-religious country, Vietnam has religions imported from the West and also indigenous religions. Major religions of the world such as Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism and the process of formation and development in Vietnam are the core contents of the training program.

The beliefs of ethnic groups are also quite diverse. Students will learn to understand deeply the indigenous beliefs in Vietnam such as: ancestor worship, mother worship, village tutelary god worship and the beliefs of 54 ethnic groups.

Typical subjects are:History of religious organizations, Comparative religious studies, Vietnamese beliefs, Ethnic religions, Taoism in Vietnam, Khmer Theravada Buddhism - history and present, Cultural beliefs in the Southwest region, Taoism in Vietnam, Catholicism in Vietnam, Protestantism in Vietnam - history and present, Islam in Vietnam, Buddhism and Confucianism in Vietnam...

The major on the role and relationship of religion to social life is a field of knowledge that is considered very attractive and lively. Religion is viewed in many aspects, competing with the relationship with culture (art, music, architecture...), politics, economics and real life... Specific subjects such as:Literature, art and culture of religious spiritual tourism, Religious symbols - the basis of culture, Religious music and art, Concepts of Goodness and Beauty through symbols of national Buddhist fine arts and literature, Religious ethics with current Vietnamese social ethics, Religious criticism, Han Nom and calligraphy in religion, Religious journalism and media, Social charity work and education and training in religion...

Bachelor of Religious Studies is always welcomed by society.

Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Thi Kim Oanh said that currently, most of the people working in the field of religious management in ministries, departments, branches and localities have not been trained and standardized through formal schools, but mainly self-equip themselves with knowledge from practice. Therefore, the social need for a Bachelor of Religious Studies is quite urgent.

Bachelors of Religious Studies can take on a variety of job positions. They can work in agencies that plan policies and guidelines for the Party and the State; agencies and organizations in the political system, and socio-economic organizations. Currently, the central and local management agencies of the State on religious activities are the Government Committee for Religious Affairs and the Religious Committees of the Departments of Internal Affairs of local areas. These are potential recruiting units and are very suitable for the professional capacity of Bachelors of Religious Studies.

In addition, after graduation, Religious Studies students can work at the Fatherland Front, Ethnic Committees, and Mass Mobilization Committees at all levels; manage and preserve heritage, culture, and beliefs in localities; do work related to art, religious architecture, etc.; work as coordinators and managers in government and non-government projects on cultural, social, religious, and belief development.

The business fields of religious products are also a potential labor market for graduates of this major. Journalism, media activities... in the religious field are also suitable areas for graduates of Religious Studies.

In addition, Religious Studies students can participate in research and teaching activities in the fields of Religion, Belief, and Culture at universities and research institutes. The Religious Studies training program also meets the need for in-depth understanding of a group of people who are dignitaries in different religions.

"Knowledge about religion, beliefs, and the spiritual life of the community from a classical and theoretical perspective helps us deeply understand its origins and philosophy, to see the positive values ​​of beliefs and religions, and to apply them to life.

At the same time, phenomena of using religion in unhealthy and negative ways are also identified to fight and eliminate. Understanding religion also helps each individual to improve their understanding and behavior towards spiritual culture and religious culture in life.

Religion is a social phenomenon that never disappears, therefore the science of Religion always has an important position alongside the cultural and spiritual life of individuals and nations. Religious studies always have valuable applications in social life and Bachelors of Religious Studies will always be welcomed by society" - Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Thi Kim Oanh affirmed.