Religion
The majority of Vietnamese Americans are Buddhist, but more accurately practice a fusion of Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism and native animist practices, including ancestor veneration that have been influenced by Chinese folk religion. Approximately 29 to 40% of Vietnamese Americans are Roman Catholic and there is a smaller but increasing percentage of those who are Protestants . There is also a number of Vietnamese American atheists.
There are approximately 150 to 165 Vietnamese Buddhist temples in the United States, with most adopting a mix of Pure Land (Tịnh Độ Tông) and Zen (Thiền) doctrines and practices. Most temples are small, consisting of a converted house with one or two resident monks or nuns. Two of the most prominent figures in Vietnamese American Buddhism are Thich Thien-An and Thich Nhat Hanh.
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Famous quotes containing the word religion:
“In the latter part of the seventeenth century, according to the historian of Dunstable, “Towns were directed to erect ‘a cage’ near the meeting-house, and in this all offenders against the sanctity of the Sabbath were confined.” Society has relaxed a little from its strictness, one would say, but I presume that there is not less religion than formerly. If the ligature is found to be loosened in one part, it is only drawn the tighter in another.”
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