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The Spirits Move Them

By Mark Stuertz June 27, 2002

In many respects, Son Nguyen is a typical practitioner of Cao Dai, a Vietnamese religion that bubbled up from the spirit world in 1926. His voice is gentle but firm. He is dignified, yet relaxed. He wears a bright white tunic and a pleated black... More >>>

8 Images

Muoi Huong Le, priestess of the Cao Dai Tay Ninh Temples of Texas, Mountain View, stands in front of the faithful and prays during a temple service. Le vowed never to return to her homeland after Vietnamese officials detained her for possessing a book of Cao Dai doctrine not sanctioned by the communist government.

While Trung Han Kien prays, left, Minh Huynh carries an offering of tea during a service at the temple in Mountain View. Below, Minh Huynh carries flowers, representing human reproductive cells, to the altar.

The all-seeing eye was the essence of the powerful vision experienced by Ngo Van Chieu that ushered Cao Dai into the world in the early 1920s. Below, Cao Dai faithful bow down in prayer before "God's Altar."

Quan Phuoc Bui pours tea as an offering to God during a temple service in Mountain View.

Priestess Muoi Huong Le burns an offering expressing the wish that all people might live as one. Below, incense is burned as an offering to recently deceased friends and family of the faithful, whose names are listed on a card lodged in the vase.

Doanthuc Bui, left, beats nhip sanh sticks while Hien Nguyen prays during a temple service. During Cao Dai services, the sexes separate: men on the right, women on the left.

Dallas' first Cao Dai temple on Lapsley. The Dallas temple ruptured into two temples five years ago after disputes among the faithful over temple construction, who should occupy posts in the temple hierarchy and charity missions.

Texas Christian University Professor Miguel Leatham, who specializes in religious sects, says he was smitten with the Cao Dai after he saw a photo of the garish Holy See temple. Today, he believes he is one of only two academicians in the world actively studying the faith.

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While Trung Han Kien prays, left, Minh Huynh carries an offering of tea during a service at the temple in Mountain View. Below, Minh Huynh carries flowers, representing human reproductive cells, to the altar.

Mark Graham

While Trung Han Kien prays, left, Minh Huynh carries an offering of tea during a service at the temple in Mountain View. Below, Minh Huynh carries flowers, representing human reproductive cells, to the altar.

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