Nhóm 1:

CHAPTER 2: THE AMERICAN RELIGIOUS HERITAGE

1. Religions existing in the US

- The United States is and has always been a religious nation. Religious
preferences are Protestant (48%), Roman Catholic (22%), Unaffiliated (20%),
Other Christian (3%), Jewwish (2%) and other religious (5%).
- Ninety percent of Americans still say they believe in God, or a higher
power/universal spirit, although their beliefs and practices are quite universe.
The majority of Americans are Christian, but all the major religions of the
world are practiced in the US. In some parts of country, large numbers of
people belong to churches and many attend worship services more than once a
week. Other areas are more secular, with ferwer people who are active in
churches.
- In American culture, there are 6 basic cultural values: individual freedom, self-
reliance, equality of opportunity, competition, material wealth, and hard work.
the nation’s religious heritage was strengthen these values. So, religion played
an important role in the history of the US.
2. The development of Protestantism and its heritage.
a. The development of Protestantism
- Resources: The Catholic faith was first brought to the North American
continent by the Spanish in the 1500s. Although there were some Catholics, the
vast majority of the European settlers were Protestants most from England. The
Protestant branch of the Christian faith that had the strongest effect on the
development of the religious climate in the US. The Protestant branch of the
Christian faith broke away from the Roman Catholic Church in Europe in the
sixteenth century because of inportant differences in religious beliefs.
- The Protestants on the other hand, insisted that all individuals must stand alone
before God. In place of the power and authority of priests, Protestants
 subtituted what they called the “Priesthood of all believers”. This meant that
every individuals was solely responsible for his or her own relationship with
God.
- After the Protestants broke away from the Catholic Church, they found that
they could not agree among themselves about many beliefs. Therefore began to
form separate churches, called denominations. The result of this persecution
was that many Protestants were ready to leave their native countries in order to
have freedom to practice their particular religious beliefs. Religious freedom is
the strongest reasons why many colonial settlers came to America.
- A large number of Protestant denominations were established in America. At
first, some denominations hoped to force their views and beliefs on others, but
the colonies were simply too large for any one denomination to gain control
over the others. The idea of separation of church and state became accepted.
b. Protestant heritage: self-improvement
- Protestantism has been a powerful force in shaping the values and beliefs of
Americans. One of the most important values asociated with American
Protestantism is the value of self-improvement, an outgrowth of self-reliance.
Christanity often emphasizes the natural sinfulness of human nature. However,
unlike Catholics, Protestants do not go to priests for forgiveness of their sins;
individuals are left alone before God to improve themselves and ask for God’s
guidance, forgiveness, and grave. For this reason, Protestantism has
traditionally encouraged a strong and restless desire for self-improvement.
- Perhaps the most dramatic example of idea of self-improvement is the
experience of being “born again”. Individuals who have had this experience
say that opening their hearts to God and Jesus Christ changed their lives so
completely that it was like being born again. Many evangelicals, or religious
conservatives belive this is an important experience to have.
- The need for self-improvement has reached far beyond self-improvememnt is
the purely moral or religious sến. Today it can be seen in countless books that
 offer advise to people in how to stop smoking lose weight, oee have better
relationships. Books of this type often offer advise on how to be happier and
more successful in life. They are referred to as “self-help” books, and many are
best sellers. They are the natural products of a culture in which people believe
that “God helps those who help themselves”.
3. The national religion
- The mixture of religion and patriotism is an example of what some scholars
have called “national religion’ of the US. The roots of the national religion go
back to colonial times. In the countries from which the American colonists
emigrated, the dominant values of the nation were often supported by an
organized national church. Although Americans made certain that no organized
national church would exist in their young country, they have, over the years,
developed a number of informal practices that combine national patriotism
with religion. The main function of this national religion is to prove support for
the dominant values of the nation and comfort in times of grief. Thus, it dóe in
an informal and les organized way what nationally organized churches did for
European nations in earrlier times.
- Some observers of American society believe that the various practices that are
called the national religion can have harmful effects, however. Sometimes
these practices can help to create a climate in eehich disagreement with current
national practives is discouraged or not tolerated. There have been times when
citizens have disagreed with their government’s decision to wage war, for
example, and other Americans accused them of being unpatriotic. This
happened during the war in Vietnam, when protesters were told, “American-
love it, or leave it”. A similar division of opinion occurred over the US
decision to invade Iraq in 2003.
4. Religions and basic values.

a. Material Success
The achievement of material success is apparently the most widely respected form of
self-improvement in the United States. The idea of mixing materialism and religion may
seem contradictory; religion is considered to be concerned with spiritual matters, not
material possessions. How can the two mix? All Americans believe in God, the God will
bring them the best thing and always try their best to work hard.

Some of the early European Protestant leaders believed that people who were blessed by
God might be recognized in the world by their material success. Other church leaders in
the United States, made an even stronger connection between gaining material wealth and
being blessed by God.

b. Hard work & Self-Discipline

American religious leaders, however, never encouraged the idea of gaining wealth
without hard work and self-discipline. Only by hard work could these natural resources
be converted into material possessions, allowing a more comfortable standard of living.
Many scholars believe that the emphasis on these two values made an important
contribution to the industrial growth of the United States. Protestant leaders viewed the
work of all people as holy, not just that of priests. They also believed that the capacity for
self-discipline was a holy characteristic blessed by God. Self-discipline was often defined
as the willingness to save and invest one's money rather than spend it on immediate
pleasures. Protestant tradition, therefore, may have played an important part in creating a
good climate for the industrial growth of the United States, which depended on hard work
and willingness to save and invest money.

The belief in hard work and self-discipline in pursuit of material gain and other goals is
often referred to as “the Protestant work ethic” or “the Puritan work ethic.. Many
religious groups in the United States share this work ethic, and even Americans who have
no attachment to a particular church are influenced by the work ethic in their daily lives.
Interestingly, in the last few decades, there has been a shift both in the work ethic and in
the meaning of work. Yankelovich and other researchers report that in the past, most
Americans did not expect their work to be interesting or enjoyable. In the 1950s, for
example, most people saw their jobs primarily as a source of income. Now, by a margin
of four to one, they expect their work to give them a sense of personal satisfaction and
fulfillment, in addition to their income. However, they always work hard. The United
States is the only industrialized country that does not have a legal requirement for
workers to have a certain number of paid vacation days. Americans take an average of
only two weeks of vacation time a year. And the recent studies have painted a grim
picture of the American working world: Longer days, less vacation time, and later
retirement: They are taking only 51% of their paid vacation days. And 61% of those who
do are working while they are on vacation. Think about that for a minute – even when we
are given a “budget” of days to spend, we only spend half of it, on average. And you
know how much Americans love spending their budget.

CHAPTER 6: EDUCATION IN THE US

5. Racial equality in American education

- The most significant departure from the ideal of equality of opportunity in
education occurred in the education of African Americans. After the Civil War
in the 1860s, the southern states developed a social and legal system that
segregated the former black slaves from the white population in all public
facilities, including schools. Blacks had separate schools that were inferior to
the white schools by almost any measure to take measures to integrate all of its
public schools, in both the South and the North. Although there had been no
legal segregation in the North, the neighborhood schools of both the North and
the South reflected the makeup of the races who lived in the neighborhood.
These residential patterns resulted in a number of segregated schools in the
North, particularly in big cities. Many public schools in the inner city were
composed predominantly of African-American students and often shared the
neighborhood problems of poverty high - crime rates, and other forms of social
 disorder. These schools were clearly unequal to those in the predominantly
white, middle-class neighborhoods in the suburbs.
- In the test case in 1896, the Supreme Court stated: racial segregation in public
schools and other public facilities in the southern states did not violate the
Constitution

• The S.C. pretended that the separate black schools and other facilities were equal
to those of whites

• The S.C. invented the separate but equal doctrine to justify racial segregation in
public schools and other public facilities in the southern states

• Justice John Marshall Harlan strongly disagreed and believed that the decision
violated the nation's highest law and its basic values "Our Constitution is color-
blind, and neither knows nor tolerates classes among its citizens.”

- For the next twenty years, the courts required Americans to try to achieve
racial balance in the public schools. The most controversial method used to
deal with unequal neighborhood schools was the busing of schoolchildren from
their home neighborhoods to schools in more distant neighborhoods in order to
achieve a greater mixture of black and white children in all schools. Black
children from the inner city were bused to schools in predominantly white,
middle-class neighborhoods, and students living in the middle-class
neighborhoods were bused into the poorer black neighborhood schools. Most
students did not like it, and neither did their parents, who wanted their children
to attend neighborhood schools. Busing continued through the 1970s and the
1980s with mixed success, and it has been largely abandoned. Most school 39
districts now allow children to attend School in their own neighborhood, even
if it is predominantly black or white.

CHAPTER 7: LEISURE TIME, RECREATION AND TELEVISION

1. Sports and American values

Most social scientists bellieve that the sports that are organized by a society
generally reflect the basic values of that society and attempt to strengthen them in
the minds and emotions of its people. Therefore, organized sports may have a
more serious social purpose than spontaneous. unorganized play by individuals.
This is certainly true in the United States, where the three most popular organized
sports are American football, basketball, and baseball, with soccer gaining in
popularity. Traditionally, Americans have seen organized sports as an example of
equality of opportunity in action. In sports, people of different races and economic
backgrounds get an equal chance to excel. For this reason, notes sociologist Harry
Edwards, Americans have viewed organized sports as "a laboratory in which
young men, regardless of social class, can learn the advantages and rewards of a
competitive system." Although Edwards specifically mentions young men, young
women also compete in organized sports without regard to their race or economic
background. The majority of American football and basketball players, both
college and professional, are African-American, and about one-third of
professional baseball players are Hispanics or Latinos.
Women's sports have grown in popularity in the United States, and they now have
more funding and stronger support at the college level than in the past.
The Olympics provide evidence of the increased interest in women's organized
sports. American women have won gold medals for several team sports-softball,
basketball, and soccer.
The American ideal of competition is also at the very heart of organized sports in
the United States. Many Americans believe that learning how to win in sports
helps develop the habits necessary to compete successfully in later life. This
training, in turn, strengthens American society as a whole. In fact, about two-
thirds of American boys play organized sports outside of school, and more than
half of the girls do, too.
Amateur athletics, associated with schools and colleges, are valued for teaching
young people traditional American values. The competitive ethic in organized
 sports contains elements of hard work and physical courage. Hard work is often
called "Tustle," "persistence," or "never quitting" in the sports world, while
physical courage is referred to as "being tough" or "having guts."
2. Competition carried to an extreme: How? Why? And its effects?
(How) Although sports in the United States are glorified by many, there are others
who are especially critical of the corrupting power of sports when certain things
are carried to excess. An excessive desire to win in sports, for example, can
weaken rather than strengthen traditional American values.
Woody Hayes, another famous football coach, once said: "Anyone who tells me,
'Don't worry that you lost; you played a good game anyway,' I just hate." Critics
believe that such statements by coaches weaken the idea that other things, such as
fair play. following the rules, and behaving with dignity when one is defeated, are
also important. Unfortunately, many coaches still share the "winning is the only
thing" philosophy.
(why) Most Americans would probably say that competition in organized sports
does more to strengthen the national character than to corrupt it. They would
probably say that eliminating competition in sports and in society as a whole
would lead to laziness rather than hard work and accomplishment. One high
school principal, for example, described the criticism of competitive sports as "the
revolutionaries' attempt to break down the basic foundations upon which society is
founded." Comments of this sort illustrate how strong the idea of competition is in
the United States, and how important organized sports are as a means of
maintaining this value in the larger society.
Another problem facing organized sports is the use of performance-enhancing
drugs. With the pressure to win so strong, a number of athletes have turned to
these drugs. Although the use of most performance-enhancing drugs is illegal, it
has now spread from professional sports down to universities and even high
schools and middle schools. The use of these drugs puts the health of the athletes
 in danger, and it is ethically wrong. It goes against the American values of equality
of opportunity and fair competition.
(Effects) By 2004, the problem had become so significant that President George
W. Bush mentioned it in his State of the Union address:
Athletics play such an important role in our sociely, but, unfortunately, some in
professional sports are not setting much of an example. The use of performance
enhancing drugs like steroids in baseball, football, and other sports is dangerous,
and it sends the wrong message- that there are shortcuts to accomplishment, and
that performance is more important than character. In recent years, there has been
a lot of attention paid to head injuries--brain concussions that cause problems as
athletes age. There is evidence that these injuries cause brain damage that can be
severe, even resulting in dementia. People are particularly concerned about the
injuries that high school players get in football games. The pressure to "hit hard"
and win high school games is intense. In some parts of the country, especially in
the South, boys start playing tackle football in elementary school, bringing the
risks of competitive pressure to nine- and ten-year-olds. Concussions are also a
problem for soccer players, particularly for girls because their necks are not as
strong as boys.
3. Recreational activities of American people
- Unlike organized sports, what is generally called recreation in the United
States is not expected to encourage competition. For this reason, recreation is
much more spontaneous and serves the individual's needs away from the
competitive world of work. Nevertheless, much can be learned about the values
of Americans from an examination of the kinds of recreation in which they
engage. Many recreational activities are organized at the local level and are
paid for (in part) by local governments. Local Parks and Recreation
organizations often offer a wide range of activities to community members.
There is usually a Parks and Recreation department that operates a recreation
center that has fitness equipment and offers classes, and it maintains outdoor
 facilities. These may include public parks, playgrounds, soccer and baseball
fields, basketball and tennis courts, golf courses, walking and bike trails, and
swimming pools. These facilities are open to all at little or no cost. During
good weather, many communities sponsor outdoor activities and festivals that
feature events such as food tasting, outdoor concerts, county fairs, contests, and
races. Often, these are attended by whole families and groups of friends.
- Some Americans prefer recreation that requires a high level of physical
activity. This is true of the most popular adult recreational sports: jogging or
running. tennis, and skiing. It would seem that these Americans carry over their
believe in hard work into their world of play and recreation. The expression
"We like to work hard and play hard" is an example of this philosophy.
4. How are basic values reflected in the recreation activities
- The recreational interests of Americans also show a continuing respect for the
self-reliance, and, sometimes, the adventure and danger of frontier life. While
some chose safe pastimes such as handicrafts, gardening, or DIY (Do It
Yourself) projects like building bookcases. In their den, others are ready to
leave home and take some risks. Adventure travel has grown to a multi-billion-
dollar business. Millions of Americans have bought mountain bikes to explore
the wilderness on their own. Many others are choosing to go white water
rafting, mountain climbing, rock climbing, skydiving, helicopter skiing, and
bungee jumping. US. park officials complain about the number of people who
take life-threatening risks in national parks and have to be rescued. "It is as if
they are looking for hardship," one park official stated. They seem to enjoy the
danger and the physical challenge."
- Not all Americans want to "rough it" while they are on their adventure
holidays, however. The Americans love of comfort, seems to be competing
with their desire to feel self-reliant and adventurous.
CHAPTER 8: THE AMERICAN FAMILY
1. Describe the structure of American family
- What is the typical American family like? If Americans are asked to name the
members of their families, family structure becomes clear. Married American
adults will name their husband or wife and their children, if they have any, as
their immediate family. If they mention their father, mother, sisters, or
brothers, they will define them as separate units, usually living in separate
households. Aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents are considered extended
family.
- Traditionally, the American family has been a nuclear family, consisting of a
husband, wife, and their children, living in a house or apartment. Grandparents
rarely live in the same home with their married sons and daughters, and uncles
and aunts almost never do. In the 1950s, the majority of the American
households were the classic traditional American family: a husband, wife, and
two children. The father was the "breadwinner" (the one who earned the money
to support the family), the mother was a "homemaker" (the one who took care
of the children, managed the household, and did not work outside the home),
and they had two children under the age of eighteen. If you said the word
family to Americans a generation or two ago, this is the traditional picture that
probably came to their minds.
- Today, however, the reality is much different. A very small percentage of
American households consist of a working father, a stay-at-home mother, and
children under eighteen. Less than one-quarter of American households now
consist of two parents and their children, and the majority of these mothers in
these households hold jobs outside the home.
- The majority of American households today consist of married couples without
children, single parents and their children, or unrelated people living together.
Perhaps most surprising, 27 percent of Americans live alone. About one-third
of those living alone are 65 years or older. The rate of divorce is high.
- Many of them live in small towns in the upper Midwest part of the country,
where more people prefer to stay in their own homes as they age. Others who
 live alone are younger people who move to places such as Atlanta and northern
Virginia (the Washington, D.C. area) in search of job opportunities.
- What has happened to the traditional American family of the 1950s, and why?
Some of the explanation is demographic. In the 1950s, men who had fought in
World War II had returned home, married, and were starting their families.
There was a substantial increase (or boom) in the birthrate, producing the
"baby boomers." A second demographic factor is that today young people are
marrying and having children later in life. Some couples now choose not to
have children at all. A third factor is that people are living longer after their
children are grown, and they often end up alone. And, of course, there is a
fourth factor--the high rate of divorce.

Nhóm 2

CHAPTER 2: THE AMERICAN RELIGION HERITAGE

1. Popular religions in the US and in Vietnam? Reasons for their existence?

a. In US
- Religious preferences are Protestant (48%), Roman Catholic (22%),
Unaffiliated (20%), Other Christian (3%), Jewwish (2%) and other religious
(5%).
- The landscape of religion in America is complicated and constantly changing,
but it has always been a very important aspect of the culture. In Chapter 2 we
introduced six basic cultural values individual freedom, self-reliance, equality
of opportunity, competition, material wealth, and hard work. These values
developed in and were strengthened by the nation's religious heritage. Several
of these values--individual freedom, self-reliance, material wealth, and hard
work were particularly affected. In this chapter, we will first examine how the
historical context shaped the nation's religious heritage and helped produce and
reinforce these cultural values. Then we will look at how these values affect
the religious landscape today.
- From the beginning, religion played an important role in the history of the
United States. The Catholic faith was first brought to the North American
continent by the Spanish in the 1500s. For the next 300 years, Catholic
missionaries and settlers from Spain and then Latin America came to what is
now Florida, California, and the Southwest. Many of the cities were named by
these missionaries and settlers-St.Augustine, San Francisco, Santa Fe, and San
Antonio, for example.
- French Canadian Catholic missionaries also came with the explorers and
traders from Quebec, down the Mississippi River to New Orleans. In the
1600s, European settlers began establishing colonies along the east coast of
North America. Although there were some Catholics, the vast majority of the
European settlers were Protestants, most from England. As the new nation
formed, it was the Protestant branch of the Christian faith that had the strongest
effect on the development of the religious climate in the United States.
b. In VN
- According to statistics from the Government Committee for Religious Affairs,
as of 2018, Buddhists account for 14.9% of the total population, Christians
8.5% (Catholics 7.4% & Protestants 1.1%), Hoahao Buddhists 1.5%, and
Caodaism followers 1.2%. Other religions include Hinduism, Islam, and
Baháʼí Faith, representing less than 0.2% of the population. Folk religions
(worship of ancestors, gods and goddesses), not included in government
statistics, have experienced revival since the 1980s.
- Besides the dominance of Buddhism, Confucianism has a deep imprint on the
way of people’s life. Confucius, or Kung Fu-tzo (551-479 B.C.), the founder of
this religion, stressed the improvement of the moral self as the basic duty of the
individual as well as the statesman. Confucianism was introduced into Vietnam
as early as the first century, during the Chinese domination. Two Chinese
governors at that time, Hsi Kwang and Jen Yen, were most instrumental in its
introduction. It was after Vietnam achieved independence that Chinese
 influence and Confucianism became important in Vietnam. Because of a
political philosophy that was favorable for the monarchy, Confucianism was
promoted and supported by the government. In 1253, the Institute for National
Studies was founded by the king to teach the classical books of Confucius.
Under the Le dynasty, studies of the Confucian doctrine attained their apogee.
With the French conquest and the influence of Western philosophies,
Confucianism began to decline. However, Confucianism still pervades the
thinking and behavior of Vietnamese people from all walks of life. Nowadays,
the value of Confucianism as a moderating influence upon social behavior is
being rapidly superseded by the need for flexibility and openness in a
developing society. As an illustration, the pronouncement that “when the father
dies, the mother should obey the children” has in reality never been practiced.
The widowed mother is till respected and obeyed by all her children.
2. National religions in the US and in Vietnam? Their importance and effects?
a. In US
- The mixture of religion and patriotism is an example of what some scholars
have called “national religion’ of the US. The roots of the national religion go
back to colonial times. In the countries from which the American colonists
emigrated, the dominant values of the nation were often supported by an
organized national church. Although Americans made certain that no organized
national church would exist in their young country, they have, over the years,
developed a number of informal practices that combine national patriotism
with religion. The main function of this national religion is to prove support for
the dominant values of the nation and comfort in times of grief. Thus, it dóe in
an informal and les organized way what nationally organized churches did for
European nations in earrlier times.
- Some observers of American society believe that the various practices that are
called the national religion can have harmful effects, however. Sometimes
these practices can help to create a climate in eehich disagreement with current
 national practives is discouraged or not tolerated. There have been times when
citizens have disagreed with their government’s decision to wage war, for
example, and other Americans accused them of being unpatriotic. This
happened during the war in Vietnam, when protesters were told, “American-
love it, or leave it”. A similar division of opinion occurred over the US
decision to invade Iraq in 2003.
b. In VN
A large proportion of Vietnamese show “religion-less” as their official status.
Almost people are irreligionists (81,69%)… The government does not
officially favor a particular religion, and virtually all senior government as well
as the vast majority of National Assembly delegates, are formal “without
religion”.
3. Values associated with religions in the US and in Vietnam?
a. In US

 The combination of national patriotism and religion

In the countries from which the American colonists emigrated, dominant values of the
nation were often supported by an organized nation church. Americans have developed a
number of informal practices that combine national patriotism with religion. A number of
scholars have referred to these practices as the “national religion” of the United States.
The main function of this national religion is to provide support for the dominant value of
the nation.

The national religion in the United States mixes patriotism with religious ideas in song
and in ceremonies that proclaim God’s blessing on America, its basic values, and its
actions as a nation. The national religion can be observed on many occasions when
Americans gather together - on national holidays, at political conventions, and especially
at sports events. Before a ballgame, the players and fans stand up for the national anthem,
and sometimes a religious leader will offer a prayer.
Patriotic songs such as “God Bless America”, “America the Beautiful”, and “My Country
Tis of Thee” are as well known to most Americans as their national anthem. These songs
are sung frequently on public occasions and maybe sung at Protestant worship services,
expressing the idea that the United States has received God's special blessing.
Expressions of the national religion can also be seen when the United States sends
military forces overseas. In America, people event had a slogan “In God, we trust”. The
mixture of patriotism and religious ideas were expressed in “Pledge of Allegiance” in
some version.

 The belief of Americans in national religion

Some observers of American society believe that the various practices that are called the
national religion can have harmful effects. Sometimes these practices can help to create a
climate in which disagreement with current national practices is discouraged or not
tolerated. In the 1960s, for example, some citizens considered the young people who
protested against the war in Vietnam to be “un-American”. They told the young
protesters, “America—love it or leave it”. This phrase became a slogan that illustrated
their excessive patriotism. When the national religion helps to create a climate that
encourages excessive conformity with prevailing national practices, it can have a harmful
effect.

However, the earliest Protestant settlers believed that by coming to America, they were
carrying out God's plan. This belief gave them confidence that they would succeed.
Today, Americans still need to believe that their nation will continue to succeed, and the
national religion helps to answer this need by reminding them of their religious heritage.
It is a means of maintaining their national self-confidence in a rapidly changing world

b. In VN

In Vietnam, the national religion is also observed in songs such as Lay Phat Quan
Am, and the Buddhist’s birthday (the 8th of Aril-lunar calendar), a large
proportion of Vietnamese show “religion-less” as their official status. Almost
people are irreligionists (81,69%)… The government does not officially favor a
 particular religion, and virtually all senior government as well as the vast majority
of National Assembly delegates, are formal “without religion”. However, many
parties and government officials openly practice traditional ancestor worship,
some visit Buddhist pagodas. The prominent traditional position of Buddhism
does not affect religious freedom for others adversely, including those who do not
practice a religion.

4. Roles and contributions of religions to the US and Vietnam?

a. In US
- (Roles) Religious liberty, also known as freedom of religion, is "the right of all
persons to believe, speak, and act – individually and in community with others,
in private and in public – in accord with their understanding of ultimate truth."
The acknowledgment of religious freedom as the first right protected in the Bill
of Rights points toward the American founders' understanding of the
importance of religion to human, social, and political flourishing. Freedom of
religion is protected by the First Amendment through its Establishment Clause
and Free Exercise Clause, which together form the religious liberty clauses of
the First Amendment. The first clause prohibits any governmental
"establishment of religion" and the second prohibits any governmental
interference with "the free exercise thereof." These clauses of the First
Amendment encompass "the two big arenas of religion in constitutional law.
Establishment cases deal with the Constitution’s ban on Congress endorsing,
promoting or becoming too involved with religion. Free exercise cases deal
with Americans’ rights to practice their faith."
- (Contributions) In the Middle Ages and Renaissance, the Catholic Church is
"at the center of the development of the values, ideas, science, laws, and
institutions which constitute what we call Western civilisation". Besides,
Protestantism has been a powerful force in shaping the values and beliefs of
Americans. One of the most important values asociated with American
 Protestantism is the value of self-improvement, an outgrowth of self-reliance.
Protestantism has traditionally encouraged a strong and restless desire for self-
improvement. Today it can be seen in countless books that offer advice to
people on how to stop smoking, lose weight, or have better relationships.
Books of this type often offer advice on how to be happier and more successful
in life. They are referred to as ‘ self help’ books and many are best sellers.
They are the natural products of a culture in which people believe that “ God
helps those who help themselves”.
b. In VN
- It is concept that people are born with a certain faith and follow the religious
roots in their family. Whatever they do, they could not escape theirs. Buddhism
teaches people the way of accepting and living in harmony with others so
Vietnamese have fewer competitions with others when they work.
- People always believe Buddhism and pray for their luck, wealth and health
from Buddhism. Sometimes, they believe the luck the Buddhism brought for
them rather than what they can do themselves.
- Because people are not aggressive, so they work comfortably, flexibly , but
some situations have neither the creation nor the discipline in the daily work.

CHAPTER 7: LEISURE TIME: ORGANIZED SPORTS, RECREATION,

TELEVISION

3. Roles of professional sports in Vietnam?

- Sports are an important part of the daily life of Vietnamese people. Currently,

people are more and more concerned about physical and mental benefits, so
health and sports are one of the items that people care about first.
- In a recent survey conducted by Q&Me - a company specializing in the field of
market research in Vietnam, the types of sports that account for the popularity
in Vietnam include 3 main types: Fitness, Sports and Martial Arts. In addition
 to sports, Vietnamese people also perform many other activities in daily life to
maintain and improve their health better.

4. Do sports reflect traditional values in Vietnam?

- Traditional sports are an important part of the traditional culture of the
Vietnamese people and have a certain influence in the spiritual life of our
people, associated with the working life and the cause of protection.
Fatherland, fighting against foreign invaders of our nation from ancient times
to the present. Traditional sports activities are often held during holidays and
Tet, not only to help train and improve people's health and physical health, but
also to contribute to preserving the national cultural identity and promoting
spirituality. the spirit of community cohesion, enriching the cultural life of the
people. On May 26, 1946, President Ho Chi Minh attended the opening
ceremony of "Youth Movement Day" and launched the movement "Be healthy
for water", opening the movement of physical training and sports in a large
number of people. people. The movement has many types of training and
competition: martial arts, traditional wrestling, sailing, swimming, brushing,
kicking, tug of war, throwing, pushing sticks...