VIETNAMESE PEOPLE'S CONCEPT OF "THE AFTER-WORLD" IN THE PRACTICE OF ANCESTOR WORSHIP FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION THEORY OF PERTER L.BERGER AND THOMAS LUCKMANN

Abstract

Drawing on Peter L. Berger and Thomas Luckmann’s Social Construction Theory, this article argues that the notion of the “otherworld” in Vietnamese ancestor worship does not exist as a fixed, pre-determined entity. Rather, it should be understood as a cultural construct that is continuously shaped, sustained, and reproduced through social processes over time. By examining the three stages of Externalization, Objectivation, and Internalization, the study elucidates how Vietnamese communities have created, adapted, and transmitted beliefs about the “otherworld,” while also analyzing the role of such beliefs in orienting behavior and regulating social norms within the practice of ancestor worship. The findings further demonstrate that, in the context of contemporary social transformations, conceptions of the “otherworld” in Vietnamese ancestor worship both adapt to new circumstances and preserve elements of traditional cultural identity. This dynamic not only highlights the enduring vitality of a form of folk belief, but also reflects the community’s capacity to construct and reconstruct spiritual values in response to the evolving religious and existential needs of Vietnamese society today.