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OPENING OF CAO DAI COURSE AT KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY, USA

OPENING OF CAO DAI COURSE AT KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY, USA

Updated 2024-10-05 16:18:52

(Manhattan, Kansas, USA, August 28, 2024 – Report and images by Caodai TV)

From 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. on August 28, 2024, at the Department of Anthropology, Kansas State University (KSU), the Opening Ceremony of a new course called East Asian New Religions took place, which taught 3 main religions including: Taiwan's Weixin Shengjiao taught by Professor Fiona Hsin-Fang Chang; Daesoon Jinrihoe taught by Dr. Joo Soyeon, Department of Research and Development of Daesoon Jinrihoe Ideology, Daejin University, Korea, and Cao Dai taught by Professor Michael Wesch.

The guests attending the opening ceremony included 14 members of the Cao Dai delegation led by Reverend Thuong Canh Thanh, former Head of the Overseas Representative Board of the Caodai Sacerdotal Council, Tay Ninh, Viet Nam. In addition, there were representatives of the Korean Daesoon Jinrihoe and representatives of Shengmu Temple, Taiwan. There were more than 18 students registered to study this new subject at the Faculty of Anthropology. In total, about 45 people attended the opening ceremony of the new course.

The course on New Religions in East Asia was opened at the initiative of Reverend Thuong Canh Thanh when working with Professor Michael Wesch over the past 3 years. This is the 5th university to introduce Cao Dai as an official subject in the training program, after the University of Moscow, USSR; the University of Dhaka - Bangladesh; the University of Vienna - Austria; the University of Missouri - USA. The Cao Dai courses at the above universities are conducted smoothly thanks to the dedicated sharing of documents, and the orientation of combining academics and religion between the professors and Reverend Thuong Canh Thanh.

After a brief introduction by Professor Michael Wesch at the opening ceremony, Professor Joe Hobbs gave a presentation sharing his experience teaching the subject of Cao Dai at the University of Missouri with professors, students and representatives of three new religions present at the ceremony. In addition, Professor Joe Hobbs also shared his experiences in studying Cao Dai for more than 20 years, with the help of Reverend Thuong Canh Thanh and followers of Cao Dai Tay Ninh Holy See. Also Prof. Joe Hobbs guided students in the class on scientific research methods, fieldwork methods to learn about customs and cultures in other countries and practical experiences that an anthropologist needs to prepare.

Students attending the opening ceremony expressed their desire to learn more about the new religions of East Asia, were especially impressed with the philosophy of universalism in Cao Dai and wished to visit the Tay Ninh Holy See in Viet Nam to learn more about this religion.

Reverend Thuong Canh Thanh and PhD Candidate Nguyen Tuan Em answered students' questions about universalism and the characteristics of initiation in Cao Dai, and wished the lecturers and students effective teaching and learning of the subject.

In addition to attending the World Religions Festival and the Opening Ceremony of the Asian New Religions course, the Cao Dai delegation was taken by Professor Michael Wesch to visit the landscape and places of worship in downtown Manhattan, Kansas.

The introduction of Cao Dai as an official subject at Kansas State University this time marks the next milestone in the journey to spread the Great Religion of the Third Era of Universal Salvation by Rev.Thuong Canh Thanh and Cao Dai followers overseas, in order to fulfill the prophecy of the Supreme Being, "The North and the South will go abroad together - The sovereignty of the True Religion is mine alone".

Here are some pictures of the Opening Ceremony: