(Dhaka, Dec. 15, 2009)

Professor and lecturer of the course “Cao Dai Religious Tradition” Mohammed Jahangir Alam has informed that for this semester (spring 2010) the number of students enrolled in the Caodai course at the University of Dhaka in Bangladesh has increased significantly from 33 students of year 2009 to 44 students currently. For this reason, the Department of World Religions has also increased to 2 teachers, one is Jahangir Alam, the other is Shaik Farid. Professor Farid is also mastered in Caodai religion with his thesis “ The concept of Unity in Caodaism and Unitarism : a comparative study”

Per Prof. Alam’s email : “In the current session 44 students have signed up for Caodai Religious Tradition. They are very much interested in this course. Under semester system two teachers are appointed to conduct a course. Therefore, under this system Mr. Farid (who has already completed his thesis) and I are conducting this course. We have to take 60 classes on this course. I have already done 6 classes and after 15 classes students are bound to take a mid-term exam. Farid has also done 6 classes. He will also give a mid term exam separately. That means students will take exam for 30 marks. 5 marks remain for class attendance and another 5 marks for presentation. Finally after 60 classes, students will be accepted to sit for exam of 60 marks. Total 100 marks to graduate the Caodai course.”

At the last written exam, the students had to answer 4 of the following 8 questions for a total time of 3 hours. They are :

1. Assess the influence of cultural and historical factors of the early twentieth century of Viet Nam on the origin and the development of Caodaism.

2. Is Caodaism a syncretic religion ? Evaluate the influence of other religions on Caodaism.

3. Give a brief account of fundamental beliefs and practices of Caodaism.

4. What do you mean by monotheism ? Why does Caodaism believe in the concept of “Unity of God” ? Discuss.

5. Describe the basic features of Caodaism. In this connection, determine the role of “spiritism” in this religion.

6. What part of Caodaism impresses you most and why ? Give reasons for your answer.

7. What do you understand by “human welfare” of Caodaism ? How a peaceful and happy life has been guaranteed in it ? Explain.

8. Give a brief outline of the rise and development of Caodai sects.

 

The students have expressed their desire to visit the Cao Dai Holy See in Tay Ninh, Viet Nam, in order to master their knowledge on this new religion, but so far they are not successful in getting this visit approved by both the Cao Dai Tay Ninh Sacerdoce and the Vietnamese government.