Cao Dai

Cao Dai is a new-ish religion with approximately 4-6 million followers. Cao Dai was founded in southern Vietnam in 1926, and today its adherents are almost exclusively found in the southern part of the country. We visited the Cao Dai Temple in Da Nang. Knowing nothing about the religion, we went to visit the city's small temple.

I don't really know what to think about it. Cao Dai is somewhat of a mix between Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, and Catholicism. A large sign above the temple proclaims in Vietnamese: All Religions Have The Same Purpose.

Pinky and I had to enter the compound through separated male and female entrances, and had to stay apart inside the temple as well; the left aisle is only for women, and the right is only for men. Above the central altar, which depicts the Eye of God, a large painting of  Buddha, Jesus, Laozi, and Confucius look down over the small room.

It was a bit of a strange and somewhat surreal experience. Again, I know nothing about Cao Dai, except that it's a really odd blend of several different religions and is almost exclusively a Vietnamese faith. Perhaps when we are down in Saigon we can make time to visit the Holy See (that's really what its called) from where the Pope (again, really what he's called) oversees the world's Cao Dai followers.