As many people may know, the dominant religion of Vietnam (and Southeast Asia as a whole) is Buddhism. However, Vietnam also includes people of various other religious beliefs such as Taoism, Islam, and Christianity, mostly Catholic with a small minority of Protestants. It is though the teachings of Buddha and the Roman Catholic Church that have had the greatest influence on Vietnam.
First of all, the dominant Buddhist religion is based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, the enlightened one. Buddha taught that all life is suffering and that this is caused by mankind's search for pleasure rather than true wisdom. Only by destroying our evil desires can we become free and attain true enlightenment. Buddha also instructed the people to know themselves and said, "cultivate a heart of love that knows no anger, that knows no ill will." He also said, "Hatred does not cease by hatred at any time; hatred ceases by love." Christians will also recognize the similarities between this and the words of Jesus the Christ to love our neighbors and do good to them that hate us.
Why then did these two religions, with at least some similar philosophies, and both peace-loving, become such enemies in Vietnam? The most simple answer is probably ignorance. The Christians mistakenly believed that the Vietnamese were idol-worshipers for praying to the statue of Buddha. Although understandable, this was not true since the Buddha was not worshiped at all and in fact, no specific god or gods was ever promoted by Buddhism. The Vietnamese likewise misjudged the Christians by believing that the wickedness committed by some was an indication of how all Christians behaved. They distrusted the influence that the Catholics had in the government of South Vietnam especially under President Diem.
Religion was the excuse used for most of the problems of foreign intervantion in Vietnam, yet the Nguyen dynasty was always tolerant of other religions like Christianity. The French and Spanish were allowed to convert Vietnamese until they moved from spiritual to political goals in taking part in efforts to overthrow the Emperor. This naturally, could not be allowed. Yet, no real wound ever emerged that could not be healed. The wife of Emperor Bao Dai, Her Imperial Majesty Empress Nam Phuong was a Catholic and Emperor Bao Dai himself (whose father Khai Dinh was a devout Buddhist) also converted to Catholicism after his exile to France.
Although the two factions constantly squabbled, real religious intolerance was not seen until the communist takeover, whose Marxist doctrines condemns all religions alike as nothing more than a drug for the people. Nguyen monarchs held a very different view and complete religious freedom is one of the many freedoms that a restored constitutional monarchy under the Nguyen Dynasty would bring to Vietnam. |
