Cao Dai

(Dhaka, October 15, 2023 – By Dr. Mohammad Jahangir Alam) Students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) degree within the Department of World Religions and Culture at the University of Dhaka delve into the study of Cao Dai Religious Traditions during the 3rd Year 5th Semester as part of their regular curriculum. This course has been a cornerstone of the department's offerings since its inception. The attendance records for the Cao Dai class bear witness to a growing interest among new students. They express a genuine curiosity to delve deeper into the traditions, which manifests as a desire to explore and investigate these traditions at an advanced level through programs like the Research Monograph in M.A. and M.Phil.

News from Seoul, South Korea on October 7, 2023 - Reported by Thien An - Photos by Dinh Nhan and Quang Tien) From October 4 to October 7, 2023, in the capital Seoul, Republic of Korea, under the sponsorship of the Daesoon Jinrihoe Academy of Science, the 3rd World SangSaeng Forum International Conference took place with the theme " How can Religions Help the World Solve Its Civilizational Crisis?" With special interest in Cao Dai religion and scholars who are passionate about researching the practical applications of Cao Dai religion as a salvation for humanity; Professor Bae Kyuhan, President of the Daesoon Jinrihoe Academy of Science, sent a special invitation to Professor Michael Wesch, Kansas State University, to attend and speak at the Conference.

(Quang Nam 23/7/2023 - Reported by Le Thi Lam Caodai TV)   After their visit to the two Cao Dai Temples in Hanoi, Professor Massimo Introvigne and Professor Rosita continued their excursion to another two Cao Dai Temples in Hoi An City and Dai Loc District in Quang Nam Province, aiming to explore the religious and cultural life of the two Cao Dai Communities in central Vietnam. 1. Prof. Massimo Introvigne - Director of Center for Studies on New Religions (CESNUR) in Italy. 2. Prof. Rosita Soryte - Former Permanent Mission of Lithuania to the Council of Europe, and the United Nations in New York.

(Ha Noi, July 11, 2023 - Reported by CaodaiTV) On 24 Lunar May, Year of the Cat (Solar Calendar: 11 July 2023), a delegation of 15 professors and scholars of religious studies from Italy, France, U.S and South Korea paid a visit to Cao Dai Temples located in Phuc Duc and Dang Giang villages outside of Hanoi. The two Cao Dai Temples are under the management of the Cao Dai Holy See’s Headquarters in Tay Ninh Province. The delegates are as follows: 1. Prof. Massimo Introvigne - Director of Center for Studies on New Religions (CESNUR) in Italy. 2. Prof. Rosita Soryte - Former Permanent Mission of Lithuania to the Council of Europe, and the United Nations in New York. 3. Prof. Bernadette Rigal-Cellard - Université Bordeaux Montaigne (France), and Vice-President of the European Observatory of Religions and Secularism.

(Tay Ninh Cao Dai Holy See, 7/7/2023 -Reported by CaodaiTV) This morning July 7th 2023, at 10:00am, a delegation from the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs and the Consulate General of France in Ho Chi Minh City has paid an official visit to the Tay Ninh Cao Dai Holy See. The Delegates are as follows: 1. Ambassador Jean-Christophe Peaucelle - Advisor on Religious Affairs, Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs of France. 2. Madam Emmanuelle Pavillon-Grosser, Consul General of France in Ho Chi Minh City 3. Ms Candce Ragot - Employee at  the Embassy of France in Viet Nam 4. Ms Minh Tâm - Interpreter at the Consulate General of France in HCM City.

(Cao Dai Tay Ninh Holy See, June 26, 2023 – Reported by Rev. Canh Tran) The Department of World Religions and Culture has already passed more than two decades since its foundation at the University of Dhaka in 1999. It is important to mention that Cao Dai Religious Traditions started its journey in the Department of World Religions and Culture in 2002 right after a visit of a Cao Dai delegation headed by Rev. Tran Quang Canh, former President of Cao Dai Overseas Missionary. From then on around 1200 students have already studied Caodaism. One PhD dissertation, three M.Phil. theses and two M.A. Research Monographs have been produced. It is also good news for the Cao Dai world that the study of Caodaism in the Department of World Religions and Culture at the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh has completed its two decades.

(Ho Chi Minh City June 23, 2023 – Reported by Rev. Canh Tran) At the invitation of Ms. Susan Burns, Consul General of the United States in Ho Chi Minh City, at 4:00pm on June 23, 2023, Cardinal Thuong Tam Thanh, Chairman of the Cao Dai Sacerdotal Council of Tay Ninh Holy See, along with Rev. Thuong Canh Thanh (Tran Quang Canh) came to the Grand Ballroom of the Sheraton Hotel on Dong Khoi Street, Ho Chi Minh City, to attend the Reception Ceremony to celebrate the 247th Anniversary of American Independence Day. The ceremony was attended by the US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc E. Knapper and Ms. Susan Burns, Consul General of the United States in Ho Chi Minh City, along with about 500 guests.

Dhaka, Bangladesh – June 11, 2023 The DEV Centre for Philosophical Studies of the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh organized a seminar on Caodaism: An Outstanding Example of Religious Syncretism on June 11, 2023 in the Department of Philosophy.  Professor Dr. Anisuzzaman Honorable Vice Chancellor, Global University of Bangladesh took part as a distinguished discussant while Professor Dr. Kazi Nurul Islam Honorary Professor, Department of World Religions and Culture, University of Dhaka chaired the program. 

Tay Ninh Cao Dai Holy See , February 1, 2023 – Report ed by Thien An – Photos by Huu Loi and CaodaiTV Group First of all, we would like to remind you that on the occasion of the Festival Commemorating God in the Year of the Rat 2020, Rev.Thuong Canh Thanh, former Representative of the Cao Dai Sacerdotal Council Overseas, invited 3 foreign friends to attend: 1. Prof. Joe Hobbs, University of Missouri, USA 2. Prof. Michael Wesch, Kansas State University, USA, and family 3. Mr. Patrick Scott, New York Times reporter, USA and family (Please visit the homepage for details: https://caodai.com.vn/vn/news-detail/mon-hoc-ton-Giao-cao-dai-duoc-giang-day-tai-dai-hoc- tieu-bang-kansas-hoa-ky.html)

(Dhaka, October 27, 2022 – By Mohammad Jahangir Alam) Mohammad Jahangir Alam (born 1977), is an Associate Professor of World Religions and Culture at the University of Dhaka. He earned his MPhil and PhD in World Religions Culture from the same university. As a part of his PhD research fieldwork funded by Cao Dai Overseas Missionary, USA, he studied Vietnamese language and culture at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam from 2012- 2013. An expert on Baha’i Faith, and Cao Dai culture, he authored The Concept of Unity in Baha’i Faith and Caodaism: A Comparative Study in 2010. He was awarded his doctorate in 2020 for “Dao Cao Dai: A Socio-historical Analysis of  a Syncretic Vietnamese Religion and Its Relationship with Other Religions”. His current research interest includes the realization of common aspects of truth in religion for the quest of new dynamics of peace and harmony, and exploring social integration of New Religious Movements (NRMs) through the lens of acculturation

Westminster, California – Sep 18, 2022 – by Rev. Canh Tran WHO IS LEON DENIS ? (From Wikipedia) Léon Denis (January 1, 1846 – March 12, 1927) was a notable French spiritist philosopher, and, with Gabriel Delanne and Camille Flammarion , one of the principal exponents of spiritism after the death of Allan Kardec . Denis lectured throughout Europe at international conferences of spiritism and spiritualism , promoting the idea of survival of the soul after death and the implications of this for human relations. He is known as the [ Detail ]

(Tay Ninh Holy See News on July 9, 2022 – Reported by CaodaiTV Reporter) As announced at the Caodai Quinquennial Overseas Congress of 2022 in Washington, D.C. on June 19, 2022, Rev. Thuong Canh Thanh (Tran Quang Canh) has submitted an application to the Cao Dai Sacerdotal Council Tay Ninh Holy See  to resign from the position of Head Representative of the Cao Dai Sacerdoce Overseas on June 20, 2022 as follows: “After nearly 12 years of serving the religion and the Cao Dai Sacerdoce, I respectfully request the Tay Ninh Holy See Cao Dai Sacerdotal Council to please allow me to resign from the position of the Head Representative of the Caodai Sacerdoce overseas. The reason: because of health, old age and weakness, no longer have the energy and spirit to run today's very complicated overseas missions."

(California August 2022) Mohammad Jahangir Alam (born 1977), is an Associate Professor of World Religions and Culture at the University of Dhaka. He earned his MPhil and PhD in World Religions Culture from the same university. As a part of his PhD research fieldwork funded by Cao Dai Overseas Missionary, USA, he studied Vietnamese language and culture at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam from 2012- 2013. An expert on Baha’i Faith, and Cao Dai culture, he authored The Concept of Unity in Baha’i Faith and Caodaism: A Comparative Study in 2010. He was awarded his doctorate in 2020 for “Dao Cao Dai: A Socio-historical Analysis of  a Syncretic Vietnamese Religion and Its Relationship with Other Religions”.

(California August 2022) Mohammad Jahangir Alam (born 1977), is an Associate Professor of World Religions and Culture at the University of Dhaka. He earned his MPhil and PhD in World Religions Culture from the same university. As a part of his PhD research fieldwork funded by Cao Dai Overseas Missionary, USA, he studied Vietnamese language and culture at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam from 2012- 2013. An expert on Baha’i Faith, and Cao Dai culture, he authored The Concept of Unity in Baha’i Faith and Caodaism: A Comparative Study in 2010. He was awarded his doctorate in 2020 for “Dao Cao Dai: A Socio-historical Analysis of  a Syncretic Vietnamese Religion and Its Relationship with Other Religions”.

(California August 2022) Mohammad Jahangir Alam (born 1977), is an Associate Professor of World Religions and Culture at the University of Dhaka. He earned his MPhil and PhD in World Religions Culture from the same university. As a part of his PhD research fieldwork funded by Cao Dai Overseas Missionary, USA, he studied Vietnamese language and culture at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam from 2012- 2013. An expert on Baha’i Faith, and Cao Dai culture, he authored The Concept of Unity in Baha’i Faith and Caodaism: A Comparative Study in 2010. He was awarded his doctorate in 2020 for “Dao Cao Dai: A Socio-historical Analysis of  a Syncretic Vietnamese Religion and Its Relationship with Other Religions”.