On How Religions Could Accidentally Incite Lies and Violence: Folktales As a Cultural Transmitter

43 Pages Posted: 1 Oct 2019

See all articles by Quan Hoang Vuong

Quan Hoang Vuong

Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) - Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management; Phenikaa University

Tung Ho

Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences - Institute of Philosophy; Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, Students

Hong Kong Nguyen

Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, Students; Toan Viet Info Service

Viet-Phuong La

Vuong & Associates

Thu-Trang Vuong

Vuong & Associates; Sciences Po, Students

Thi Hanh Vu

Foreign Trade University (FTU) - School of Economics and International Business

Minh-Hoang Nguyen

Centre for Interdisciplinary Social Research, Phenikaa University

Manh-Toan Ho

Vuong & Associates; Phenikaa University, Center for Interdisciplinary Social Research, Students; Thanh Tay University

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: September 26, 2019

Abstract

This research employs the Bayesian network modeling approach, and the Markov chain Monte Carlo technique, to learn about the role of lies and violence in teachings of major religions, using a unique data-set extracted from long-standing Vietnamese folktales. The results indicate that, although lying and violent acts augur negative consequences for those who commit them, their associations with core religious values diverge in the final outcome for the folktale characters. Lying that serves a religious mission of either Confucianism or Taoism (but not Buddhism) brings a positive outcome to a character. A violent act committed to serving Buddhist missions results in a happy ending for the committer. What is highlighted here is a glaring double standard in the interpretation and practice of the three teachings: the very virtuous outcomes being preached, whether that be compassion and meditation in Buddhism, societal order in Confucianism, or natural harmony in Taoism, appear to accommodate two universal vices — violence in Buddhism and lying in the latter two. These findings contribute to a host of studies aimed at making sense of contradictory human behaviors, adding the role of religious teachings in addition to cognition in belief maintenance and motivated reasoning in discounting counterargument.

Keywords: Buddhism; Confucianism; Taoism; Violence; Lies; Double Standard; Folktales; Bayesian Network Modeling; ‘Bayesvl’ R Package

Suggested Citation

Vuong, Quan Hoang and Ho, Tung and Nguyen, Hong Kong and La, Viet-Phuong and Vuong, Thu-Trang and Vu, Thi Hanh and Nguyen, Minh-Hoang and Ho, Manh-Toan and Ho, Manh-Toan, On How Religions Could Accidentally Incite Lies and Violence: Folktales As a Cultural Transmitter (September 26, 2019). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3459939 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3459939

Quan Hoang Vuong

Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) - Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management ( email )

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Tung Ho

Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences - Institute of Philosophy ( email )

1 Lieu Glai
Ba Dinh
Hanoi
Vietnam

Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, Students ( email )

Beppu
Japan

Hong Kong Nguyen

Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, Students ( email )

Beppu
Japan

Toan Viet Info Service ( email )

D4 Giang Vo
Ba Dinh
Hanoi
Vietnam

Viet-Phuong La

Vuong & Associates ( email )

3/161 Thinh Quang
Dong Da District
Hanoi, 100000
Vietnam

Thu-Trang Vuong

Vuong & Associates ( email )

3/161 Thinh Quang
Dong Da District
Hanoi, 100000
Vietnam

Sciences Po, Students ( email )

28 Rue des Saint-Peres
Paris, Paris 75006
France

Thi Hanh Vu

Foreign Trade University (FTU) - School of Economics and International Business ( email )

Vietnam

Minh-Hoang Nguyen

Centre for Interdisciplinary Social Research, Phenikaa University ( email )

Hanoi
Vietnam

Manh-Toan Ho (Contact Author)

Vuong & Associates ( email )

3/161 Thinh Quang
Dong Da District
Hanoi, 100000
Vietnam

Phenikaa University, Center for Interdisciplinary Social Research, Students ( email )

Hanoi
Vietnam

Thanh Tay University ( email )

Yen Nghia Ward, Ha Dong District
Hanoi, 100803
Vietnam

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