Respecting sacredness in religious practices

Abstract

In the multiethnic national community of Vietnam, the system of customs, practices, and forms of folk religious practices of the 54 ethnic groups (including over 700 local subgroups) that are primarily based on consciousness and psychology of gratitude and veneration for the supernatural forces that protect life (including land, trees, water, and other essential resources) as well as the gratitude and admiration of succeeding generations for their ancestors. In reality, due to shortcomings in respecting customs, traditions, and desacralization in ethnic groups’ religious practices, the effectiveness of the goal to protect and promote the value of ethnic groups’ cultural heritage has not met expectations; and some methods of handling have raised many issues that must be considered and applied in the cultural and religious environment to meet the needs of social development, both theoretically and practically. This scientific paper aims to address the process of implementing the goal of protecting and promoting the value of the cultural heritage of ethnic groups, delving into practical issues related to respecting customs, traditions, and sacredness in the religious practices of ethnic communities, with the aim of effectively recognizing and applying these practices to meet the determined objectives of building a cultural and social life in Vietnam, both presently and in the long term.