On how religions could accidentally incite lies and violence: folktales as a cultural transmitter

Quan-Hoang Vuong (), Tung Ho, Hong-Kong T. Nguyen, Thu-Trang Vuong, Trung Tran, Khanh-Linh Hoang, Thi-Hanh Vu, Phuong-Hanh Hoang, Hoang Nguyen, Ho Toan and Viet-Phuong La
Additional contact information
Quan-Hoang Vuong: Phenikaa University
Hong-Kong T. Nguyen: Phenikaa University
Thu-Trang Vuong: Ecole doctorale, Sciences Po Paris
Trung Tran: Vietnam Academy for Ethnic Minorities
Khanh-Linh Hoang: Duy Tan University
Thi-Hanh Vu: Foreign Trade University
Phuong-Hanh Hoang: Vietnam National Institute of Educational Sciences
Viet-Phuong La: Phenikaa University
Authors registered in the RePEc Author Service: Hong Kong To Nguyen () and Quan-Hoang Vuong

Palgrave Communications, 2020, vol. 6, issue 1, 1-13

Abstract: Abstract Folklore has a critical role as a cultural transmitter, all the while being a socially accepted medium for the expressions of culturally contradicting wishes and conducts. In this study of Vietnamese folktales, through the use of Bayesian multilevel modeling and the Markov chain Monte Carlo technique, we offer empirical evidence for how the interplay between religious teachings (Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism) and deviant behaviors (lying and violence) could affect a folktale’s outcome. The findings indicate that characters who lie and/or commit violent acts tend to have bad endings, as intuition would dictate, but when they are associated with any of the above Three Teachings, the final endings may vary. Positive outcomes are seen in cases where characters associated with Confucianism lie and characters associated with Buddhism act violently. The results supplement the worldwide literature on discrepancies between folklore and real-life conduct, as well as on the contradictory human behaviors vis-à-vis religious teachings. Overall, the study highlights the complexity of human decision-making, especially beyond the folklore realm.

Date: 2020
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (49)

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Working Paper: On how religions could accidentally incite lies and violence: Folktales as a cultural transmitter (2019)
Working Paper: On how religions could accidentally incite lies and violence: Folktales as a cultural transmitter (2019)
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DOI: 10.1057/s41599-020-0442-3

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