DUALISM IN CAODAISM IN SOUTHERN VIETNAM

Abstract

In considering Caodaism in terms of its establishment and development, organizing structure, and cosmology, we discover that dualism is not a conflicting and eliminating binary factor; rather it is an integration to create the solidarity in the structure of facts and phenomena in society and religion. In short, binary opposition is considered as a principle to explain solidarity, completeness in religious structure in terms of organizing forms, rituals, religious priesthood and in general the whole social structure of Caodaism. Caodaism as one of the religions in Southern Vietnam expresses clearly the dualism in its doctrine, in organization as well as in its establishment and development.