Religion in Vietnamese Society Today

On December 7, 2012, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities organized an international scientific seminar entitled "Religion in Contemporary Vietnamese Society".Attending the seminar were Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Quang Minh – Vice Rector of the University, Prof. Dr. Tran Van Doan – National Taiwan University, Prof. Dr. Kim Chae Young – Sogang University (Korea), along with domestic and international scientists and researchers. The main content of the seminar included: trends in the development of religion; the impact of the market economy and the integration process on religion in Vietnam today. The seminar was divided into four sessions, discussing four topics:

• Religion and Society in Contemporary Vietnam: Theoretical Approaches
• Religion, economics, and culture
• Religion and the individual
• Religious and social life.

In his opening remarks at the seminar, Associate Professor Pham Quang Minh affirmed that this seminar continues to be a meaningful activity, contributing to promoting research and training in the field of religion. The seminar brings together experts and researchers who are genuinely interested in and passionate about religious studies, creating opportunities for exchange and interaction between researchers from Vietnam and abroad on religious studies. In his introductory report, Professor Do Quang Hung presented new perspectives on the relationship between religion and society, and pointed out that the way religions view social issues has changed significantly. He also outlined three research trends currently attracting attention from religious studies scholars worldwide: Religion and public life; Religion and individual life; and Religion and civil society. Religion plays a crucial role, not only in the spiritual lives of individuals but also in the lives of nations, regions, and the world. Recognizing the importance of religion in the lives of individuals and society, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities has, for many years, focused on promoting the development of religious studies both within and outside the university.