Controlled Religious Plurality: Possibilities for Covenantal Pluralism in Vietnam

Historically, Vietnamese approaches to religion are highly inclusive, with flexibly overlapping religious traditions and ritual practices built on a substratum of ancestor worship. As Vietnam was colonized became independent, politicized, institutionalized, separated from the “secular” state, which sought bring in line new state orthodoxies. With understanding “religion” predicated Christian model, adopted model state-religion-society relations that emphasizes not only rights but also obligations, active cooperation between religion, respect for all religions declared equal before law, largely response international demands incorporate universal freedom. Yet, still perceives as competing source authority. Consequently, some considered official recognition their followers, such highland ethnic minorities, treated sub-citizens by own state. Occasionally, conversion is misread rest society rejection culture. The failure consider minorities modern subjects citizens par Kinh (Vietnamese) majority prevents achieving full-fledged covenantal pluralism.