Freedom of belief and religion in cyberspace

We are living in the era of the development of the Internet and generations of smartphones, especially media and social networks (social networks). This is also the "fertile land" for beliefs and religions to be propagated, developed, and reach people and believers in the fastest way.

Illustration photo.

In recent times, religious activities on cyberspace in our country have been extremely rich and diverse, accompanied by many complex developments, posing challenges in management work to both ensure people's freedom of belief and religion and fight against and prevent activities that take advantage of religion to violate the law.

Complex developments in cyberspace

With a consistent policy of respecting and ensuring freedom of belief and religion, our Party and State always create favorable conditions for religions to operate and develop richly and diversely; all people are free to operate and participate in beliefs and religions within the framework of the law; all religions in Vietnam are equal, without discrimination. Each religion plays an important role, being a significant part of the cultural and social life of the country.

To date, in Vietnam, there are 43 organizations belonging to 16 religions recognized as legal entities; 60 religious training facilities belonging to Buddhism, Catholicism, Protestantism, and Hoa Hao Buddhism with about 27 million followers of different religions.

Religions, organizations, religious groups, places of worship, churches, large pagodas... have also used social networks such as Facebook, Zalo, Telegram... to communicate and connect with their communities and followers with a high number of followers, such as on the Facebook information page of Tri Viet Publishing House (under the Vietnam Bishops' Council) with more than 36,000 followers, the Vietnam Catechetical Council has more than 45,000 followers, Tay Thien Pagoda has more than 1 million, the Vietnam Buddhist organization has more than 500,000 followers...

With outstanding advantages such as large amount of information transmitted, fast spreading, diverse and rich methods, not limited by space, time, number of participants..., social networks have been thoroughly exploited and used by individuals and religious organizations for "online religious activities" in the form of forums, online seminars, closed groups... through applications such as Website, Facebook Fanpage, Zalo, Telegram, Instagram, Lotus, Mocha, Gapo, TikTok, Zoom, Youtube...; to preach and express their faith.

Currently, religious organizations in Vietnam consider this a "new way" to bring beliefs and religions to people and followers. Venerable, Dr. Thich Nhuan Hue - Head of the Propagation Board of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Binh Dinh province, said that it is necessary to make the most of communication channels to bring Buddhism to netizens. Social networks are also a way for believers to proclaim and share good things and faith with everyone.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Bich (Duc Hoa Parish - My Tho Diocese) said: "I often share information about volunteering, charity and living beautifully.

Or Ms. Pham Thi Ngan (Dao Truyen Parish - Hanoi Diocese) said: "Sharing my faith on Facebook is also a way for me to remind myself to always live the true Christian spirit, while at the same time conveying hope and trust in God's love to my brothers and sisters." Social networks are considered "online churches" that help people easily share information, express beliefs, dogmas and pray for each other...; educate young people about faith, married life, family; guide believers to the good values of life, kindness, love for people...

However, in cyberspace, religious freedom is being threatened by illegal activities such as reactionary, violent and inciting sabotage against the Party and the State. These activities not only affect security and order, but also have negative impacts on religions and believers.

A small number of religious dignitaries and followers with political ambitions, exploited, influenced and enticed by hostile forces at home and abroad, have committed extreme and extremist actions against the Party's policies and the State's laws on religion in particular and in all fields in general.

Collaborating with hostile forces, reactionary and opposition elements both at home and abroad, these groups regularly write and disseminate false information, slandering Vietnam for violating democracy and human rights; distorting the religious situation and achievements in ensuring religious freedom in Vietnam; disseminating content that incites religion; propagating and encouraging violence, causing conflicts and racial discrimination between different religions.

This can lead to the risk of protests, opposition and confrontation between religions, causing public disorder. In addition, some organizations or individuals can also use social media to promote and propagate false messages about a particular religion or group of believers, in order to damage their image and reputation.

One example is Nguyen Dinh Thuc, a reactionary with the title of "parish priest". Taking advantage of his faith, through social networks, he called on and incited parishioners of Binh Thuan parish (Nghi Thuan commune, Nghi Loc district, Nghe An province) to "take to the streets" to protest against the government opening roads to serve people's travel.

Notably, on cyberspace today, there have been many activities that borrow the name or take advantage of beliefs and religions to distort the teachings of orthodox religions, spread "evil religions", "strange religions" and bad content that goes against the traditions and customs of the Vietnamese people, propagate anti-orthodox religions, create conflicts, divide national unity; defame and slander the Party, the State and Vietnam's religious policies.

Typically, after the "Falun Gong" and "Church of the Mother of God" groups were discovered and their gathering places were dissolved, some core members switched to online activities, gatherings, and preaching on cyberspace through applications such as Facebook, Youtube, etc. The target audience is the elderly, students, and people with incurable diseases who have the ability and conditions to use Internet-connected devices such as smartphones and tablets.

Not only that, nowadays, there are many organizations and individuals who take advantage of faith, belief, and religion for personal gain. They borrow the name of religion and belief to propagate false views, call for charity on cyberspace... but in reality, it is to make illegal profits.

Surely everyone is familiar with the name "Tinh That Bong Lai" or "Thien Am Ben Bo Vu Co", an illegal place of operation that borrows the name of "Buddhist worship facility" for illegal profit. Le Tung Van and a number of subjects impersonated Buddhists, dressed in costumes similar to monks, called themselves "teachers", carried out "preaching" activities but were not preaching Buddhist teachings but "doctrines" that he himself invented to attract followers; took advantage of the trust and charity of followers and people to call for charity for "orphans" but in fact they were all his children and grandchildren...

Not only that, many people take advantage of cyberspace, religion, and beliefs to propagate superstitions such as fortune telling, praying to ward off bad luck, cutting off predestined relationships, treating diseases online, and spirit possession; taking advantage of the curiosity of social network users, attracting attention and interaction from the online community to sell goods, profit, and commit fraud. Many people, due to lack of knowledge, gullibility, and fanaticism, are easily deceived by these superstitious activities.

Tự do tín ngưỡng, tôn giáo trên không gian mạng

The shaman "admitted right, argued wrong" live-streamed her fortune-telling, causing a stir in public opinion. (Screenshot)

Most recently, the case of "spirit medium" Truong Huong with her online fortune-telling activities and her statement "admitting right and wrong" has caused a "storm" in public opinion in recent days. This subject regularly posted videos with content promoting superstition and heresy on her personal Facebook account, attracting millions of views. This behavior was administratively fined 7.5 million VND by the Kinh Mon District Police (Hai Duong) for the act of "Providing and sharing information promoting bad customs, superstition, heresy, obscenity, depravity, not in accordance with the traditions and customs of the nation"...

Or there have been many "holy women" and "holy men" who claim to be "heavenly people" who can cure all diseases with amulets and holy water; posting "healing" clips on social networks to attract viewers and seek treatment...

The above situation has posed challenges and required the need to strengthen state management of religious activities in cyberspace to both ensure people's freedom of belief and religion, preserve and promote good values, fight superstition and heresy, and prevent hostile forces from exploiting beliefs and religions to sabotage the Party and State.

Article 24 of the 2013 Constitution affirms: “Everyone has the right to freedom of belief and religion, to follow or not to follow any religion, all religions are equal before the law. The State respects and protects the right to freedom of belief and religion. No one is allowed to violate the freedom of belief and religion or take advantage of belief and religion to violate the law.”

Ensuring freedom of belief and religion in cyberspace

To ensure religious freedom in the coming time, it is necessary to pay attention to implementing well the following basic solutions:

First, strengthen the work of grasping the situation and monitoring content on cyberspace. Strictly apply policies to manage and control online content to prevent the spread of false information, incitement, and social instability; at the same time, ensure that the freedom of speech and religion of internet users is not violated.

Second, strengthen educational and propaganda activities on religious freedom, helping people understand their rights and responsibilities, as well as recognize the limits of religious freedom and respect the rights of others.

Third, support and facilitate religions and believers to perform religious rituals and ceremonies on cyberspace, both facilitating management work and ensuring the religious freedom of people and organizations.

Fourth, promote interaction between different religions online. Interaction between different religions online should be encouraged so that people can understand and respect each other's views and values.

Fifth, strengthen the dissemination of laws and responsibilities of organizations and individuals in the field of belief and religion. Strengthen the handling of violations of religious freedom online and assign specific responsibilities to organizations and individuals involved in these violations.

Sixth, build rapid response mechanisms for violations of religious freedom online to help people report violations of religious freedom online and take timely action.

In cyberspace today, there have been many activities that borrow the name or take advantage of beliefs and religions to distort the teachings of orthodox religions, spread "evil religions", "strange religions" and bad content that goes against the traditions and customs of the Vietnamese people, propagate anti-orthodox religions, create conflicts and divide national unity; defame and slander the Party, the State and Vietnam's religious policies.

(*) Department of Cyber Security and High-Tech Crime Prevention, Ministry of Public Security.

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