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PRESENTATION ON CAO DAI RELIGION BY PROFESSOR CHRISTOPHER HARTNEY AT FULBRIGHT UNIVERSITY VIETNAM

PRESENTATION ON CAO DAI RELIGION BY PROFESSOR CHRISTOPHER HARTNEY AT FULBRIGHT UNIVERSITY VIETNAM

Updated 2026-03-07 15:34:20

(Saigon News, March 4, 2026 – Report and photos by the CaodaiTV Editorial Board)

At 6:00 PM on the 16th day of the first lunar month of the Year of the Horse (March 4, 2026), Professor Christopher Hartney (University of Sydney, Australia) gave a presentation on the role of HH Hộ Pháp Phạm Công Tắc in the formation of Cao Dai Religion and introduced his book "How Heaven Works," which was a resounding success at Fulbright University, Ho Chi Minh City. This 345-page book was published and distributed by E.J. Brill in 2024.

Professor Dr. Christopher Humphrey Hartney is currently the Chair of Discipline and Senior Lecturer in Studies in Religion at the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Sydney, Australia. Professor Hartney has collaborated with the Cao Dai Overseas Missionary (CDOM) since 1998, attending and presenting at international conferences on religion with CDOM leaders.

It is known that the precious opportunity for this presentation at Fulbright University came about thanks to the enthusiastic introduction and connection from Rev. Thượng Cảnh Thanh - former President of CDOM. Through this bridge, Professor Christopher Hartney and Dr. Nguyễn Nam - Director and Lecturer at the Center of Vietnamese Studies, Fulbright University - collaborated to create a meaningful space for academic and religious cultural exchange.

The event left a profound impression with the following highlights.

The program was conducted entirely in English, attracting the participation of over 30 students from Fulbright University. The atmosphere in the hall was incredibly lively, especially during the Q&A session. Students took turns asking insightful questions about the life and religious practice of Đức Hộ Pháp Phạm Công Tắc, as well as the philosophies of life and the cosmology of Cao Đài religion.

A particularly valuable piece of information from the event was the sharing from Dr. Nguyen Nam – Director of the Center and Lecturer in the Department of Vietnamese Studies (Fulbright University). Dr. Nam expressed his enthusiasm for the profound cultural values of Caodaism and the sacred land of Tay Ninh, and emphasized his hope to soon incorporate Caodaism into the official curriculum for Vietnamese and international students at the university.

At 7:30 PM, concluding the program, Professor Christopher Hartney took the time to chat intimately and personally sign books for the students. The professor's approachability and erudition greatly inspired the attendees.

The event concluded not only affirming the appeal of Caodaism to the academic community but also opening up new opportunities for the religion to reach the younger generation of intellectuals in Vietnam.

The CaoDai TV Editorial Board sincerely thanks Professor Christopher Hartney, Dr. Nguyen Nam, the professors and staff of the Vietnam Studies Center at Fulbright University, the students, the Cao Dai youth, and the sponsorship of Rev. Thượng Cảnh Thanh and fellow Cao Dai followers overseas, all of whom contributed to the successful outcome of the lecture program to spread the Cao Dai religion through universities.

Below are some photos from the presentation: