First I need to say that I am not someone who will judge another person based on their religion, even if I don't agree with their particular way of thinking I am in no position to judge another person. Now with that said I do think some religions are harder to grasp then other and some in particular are just an all around shock, especially when what is being seen was never explained. Also with that said the religion of Cao Dai is a bit strange (no offense to anyone who practices this). So as it goes my bus pulled up into a parking lot an yet another unscheduled trip to the Cu chi Tunnels. The parking lot was full of yellow sand and signs that read "Do not buy anything beyond these gates. It will be over priced." There are always signs that show what the day will bring and I whole heartily took this a sign of what was to come.
Our group was taken to a very brigthly painted blue, yellow, pink, and gold painted building and was told that this was a temple. The inside was a even greater assault on the senses. The room was bright pink and yellow with a blue green, arched ceiling. Columns were carved with even brighter and more cartoon like dragons on them. I felt like I had died and woken up in a Saturday morning cartoon from the 80's. Observers were lead to a balcony that surrounded the temple and were allowed to watch the proceedings. Worshipers stand in perfect lines on the floor and wait for three people, each dressed in a different color to arrive (each to symbolize a different religion).
Cao Dai was started in 1926 by the mystic Ngo Van Chieu who intertwined the three main religions of Vietnam, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism with Christianity and a few other religions for good measure to create something new. Everything in the temple has a meaning. there are statues for the first female Cao Dai priest and one of the Buddha riding a tiger to symbolize the year that the construction began. At first it all seems very progressive; inducting women and even blending all religions to create one super religion. It's great, but the following what made me start to question everything. On a platform, on different levels, are the patron saints of Cao Dai they include Christ, Sakyamuni, and Quan Kong, but also include Joan of Arch, writer Victor Hugo, and Charlie Chaplin. Three million people now follow this religion.