The Government Committee for Religious Affairs (GCRA) held on October 19 a seminar on Protestantism in Vietnam and its integration process toward native culture and community life.
The event taking place in Hai Phong city’s Do Son district was chaired by GCRA Vice Chairman Bùi Thanh Hà and Head of the Religious Affairs Department under the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee Nguyễn Văn Thanh, and attended by representatives from the Evangelical Church of Vietnam (ECVN) (South), the ECVN (North), the Vietnam Christian Fellowship Church, the Vietnam Baptist Church and Protestant house-church organizations, several researchers on Protestantism and members of Hanoi Protestant church.
The one-day seminar analyzed and discussed the integration process of Protestantism toward native culture and its contributions to community building for during its100 years of existence and development in Vietnam.
Vietnam is currently home to over one million Protestant followers, concentrating mostly in ethnic minorities in the Central Highlands and Northern mountainous areas.
According to a seminar report, in addition to the quantitative changes, Protestantism in Vietnam has made certain changes in theological views, Biblical interpretation and catechesis practice.
In terms of the integration process toward the native culture, several Protestant participants expressed their views that Protestantism in Vietnam has not sought to eliminate the indigenous culture. Instead, it has moved towards upholding fine traditions and removing backward customs at the same time.
With the expansion and diversification of international relations, Protestantism in Vietnam has become a bridge for cultural exchanges with the world, contributing to strengthen people - to - people relations between Vietnam and foreign countries.
Protestant followers have made significant contributions to the society by humanitarian activities including bridges and roads building, clean water well drilling, environmental protection, disaster relief, supporting program for disadvantaged people and drug addicts, etc. It’s also accessed that Protestant churches could open and run private schools, hospitals and sponsoring centers for disadvantaged people, etc, when permitted by the state law.
The event participants also highly appreciated innovations of the State’s policies and laws on religion, creating favorable conditions for religion to uphold their fine traditions and make practical contributions to communities in all aspects of the social life.
Prof. Công Nghĩa Tụ, Former Principal of Hanoi Polytechnic College speaks at the seminar
DT
