Week 4

Pryanka Narayan

ASA 189B

Week 4                                                Week 4

            The article "We Have Lens Dong Too": Transnational Aspects of Spirit Possession is a highly intriguing article that discusses the practice of len dong. For instance, len dong is described as a health care resource practice. The faith primarily is practice by those of Vietnam descent and focusses on defeating possession, getting rid of bad energy, and channeling mediums. The article also discusses critical factors such as how practices of lens dong are looked like a barbaric practice, while other religious practices such as Christianity and Catholicism is seen as a norm. Other topics that are discussed include the difference of practicing a religious faith in a country outside of the U.S. and that same practice being practiced  in the U.S. For example, Shamanism is very big component in Vietnam, and with the end of the American war in 1974 many Vietnams people left their home country to find safety in other parts of the world. With the migration, they were unable to bring all of their sacred items needed for their rituals, and when they relocated, they had to start from scratch. Many people built temples to continue their practice of Shamanism in the United States, though, with the new opportunities the new land promised, many people's original practice of selfishness had been altered. Such as many Shamans had become more oriented towards material goods in their practices. Personally, reading this article had me very intrigued as I have always been fascinated with the concept of donations and religious practices. For instance, as a child, I had been exposed to many different forms of faith and had the privilege of attending many different religious practices. Though every place of faith I have attended, always strongly requested a donation. The donations never felt like it was a request, more as of demand. The more a person donated, the more praised they were by those that were in charge. I always pondered on how could people that preached selfishness due to their strong belief in their faith, demand donations? While I do understand that donations help run these religious practices, has the need for financial gratification for these religious sectors taken over the mind of those who practice faith? One question I do have is, have religious practices turned into more personal gratification for priest or shamans in the U.S. than they have in countries outside the U.S.?