Cao Dai in North Alabama
Cao Dai is a religion founded in Vietnam in 1926, with its Holy See in Tay Ninh. Its full name means the Great Way of the Third Period of Revelation and Salvation. Followers honor one supreme God, symbolized by the Divine Eye, and draw on Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Christianity and other traditions. Cao Dai communities exist among the Vietnamese diaspora in the United States, and NAWD is ready to list any in North Alabama.
Beliefs and teachings
Cao Dai teaches that all religions share one source and that God has spoken to humanity through teachers of many faiths. Its moral path emphasizes love, justice, compassion, respect for ancestors and a cycle of rebirth shaped by karma. Many followers adopt a vegetarian diet on set days of the month, and some adopt it for life.
Worship and community
Worship takes place four times a day at fixed hours, with the most important ceremonies at noon and midnight. Worshippers wear white, make offerings of incense, flowers, tea and fruit, and sing prayers in Vietnamese. Temples are laid out in a distinctive pattern around the Divine Eye altar.
Sacred days and visiting
Major celebrations include the Lunar New Year and the anniversary of the religion's founding. Visitors are welcome at many temples. Dress modestly, remove your shoes where asked and ask before photographing the altar.