Religion is present in everyday life.

Speaking of religion, on the one hand, we feel this field is very close to each person. In our families, we all have ancestral altars. In most Vietnamese villages, there are temples, communal houses, shrines, and hermitages. Many villages also have churches, mosques, etc. All of these are religious places of worship. The banyan tree, the well, and the communal house, through folk songs, have become ingrained in the consciousness of every Vietnamese person. Religion is present in most of the Lunar New Year celebrations: Tet Nguyen Dan (Lunar New Year), Tet Nguyen Tieu (the 15th day of the 1st lunar month), Tet Thanh Minh (the 3rd day of the 3rd lunar month), Buddha's Birthday (the 15th day of the 4th lunar month), Tet Doan Ngo (the 5th day of the 5th lunar month), Tet Xa Toi Vong Nhan (the 15th day of the 7th lunar month), and Tet Ong Cong Ong Tao (the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month). Christians also have Christmas and Easter. Muslims have additional holidays such as Ramadan. Religion is present in every important event of a person's life, from birth (the ritual of offering sacrifices to the goddess of childbirth), to marriage, building a home, and finally death, returning to one's ancestors. Currently, Vietnam has nearly 30 million followers of various religions. This does not include those who follow different beliefs.

On the other hand, we all feel that our knowledge and understanding of religion is very limited, almost nonexistent. For example, what should we do when visiting temples and attending festivals, how should we pray, how much or how little paper money should we burn, and whether it's necessary to do so so that each of us, when going to temples and festivals, can both show our sincerity and demonstrate cultural awareness. Going further, why has terrorism and the "Islamic State" (IS) caused such intense conflict between the Muslim world and the West today?

All of this requires research into religion, which will help you answer those questions. The field of religious studies atDepartment of Philosophy, University of Social Sciences and HumanitiesIt is one of the reliable addresses.

Religion plays an extremely important role not only at the individual level but also at the community and national level. Buddhism served as the state religion under the Ly and Tran dynasties, contributing significantly to uniting the people and army of Dai Viet in three victories against the Mongol invaders. Under the Le and Nguyen dynasties, Confucianism assumed the role of state religion. The Temple of Literature in Thang Long, established in 1076, was one of the first universities in Southeast Asia. With its long history of Confucianism, Vietnam is a nation with a long-standing cultural heritage.

On the international stage, we are currently witnessing the rise of religious issues. The conflict between Catholicism and communism was a major issue in international relations during the Cold War. Now, many ethnic and religious issues are emerging. Terrorism, now the Islamic State (IS), the conflict in Syria, the issues of Tibet and Xinjiang in China, the normalization of relations between the US and Cuba, the lack of unity within ASEAN on some regional issues, etc., all show the direct and indirect presence of religious issues. Religion is a global issue.

To meet the needs of social development and raise the level of awareness of each individual, in 2016, the schoolUniversity of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, HanoiThis marks the first time that the Faculty of Philosophy is enrolling students in the Bachelor of Religious Studies program. With a history spanning 40 years of development...Department of Philosophy,Department of Religious StudiesWith over 20 years of training experience, the Faculty has graduated hundreds of bachelors, masters, and doctoral degree holders in religious studies. The teaching staff includes leading professors, associate professors, and experienced doctors and masters. The facilities are equipped with modern equipment, including a library of religious and belief books.University of Social Sciences and HumanitiesWe are ready to meet all training and research needs, bringing Vietnam's religious studies sector to the same level as other countries in the region and internationally.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Quang Hung - Deputy Head of the Department of Philosophy