Cao Dai

Cao Đài

Cao Dai (also Caodaism or Caodaiism) is a new religious movement founded in Vietnam. It mixes ideas from other religions.^[1]

Cao Đài is a syncretic, monotheistic religion officially established in the city of Tây Ninh, southern Vietnam in 1926. The religion combines Buddhism, Christianity, Taoism, Confucianism. The full name of the religion is Đại Đạo Tam Kỳ Phổ Độ (great religion of the third period of revelation and salvation).

Cao Dai uses ethical precepts from Confucianism, occult practices from Taoism, theories of Karma and Rebirth from Buddhism, and a hierarchical organization (including a Pope) from Christianity. Caodaiists (believers of Cao Dai) believe that the first disciples of the religion, Ngô Văn Chiêu, Cao Quỳnh Cư, Phạm Công Tắc and Cao Hoài Sang spoke to God and God spoke to them. God told them to establish a new religion that would commence the third era of religious amnesty. Because of this, Caodaiist credit God for founding their religion. The ultimate goal of a Caodaist is to rejoin with God the Father in Heaven and to break away from the cycle of rebirth and death. Women can only wear white dresses as they have to be pure, whereas men can wear colored clothing once they reach higher levels in the religion.

1. ↑ "CAODAI, its concepts: Reason for the founding of CaoĐài". CaoDai.org. Archived from the original on 24 April 2015. Retrieved 4 January 2012. In 1926, CaoĐài was founded in Vietnam to show people that all religions are indeed of one same origin. In 1926, it is claimed that the Supreme Being gave the following message: (1): Nhien Dang Co Phat (Dipankara, an old time Buddha) is Me (2): Sakya Muni is Me and (3): Thai Thuong Nguon Thi (an old time Immortal) is Me.