I asked a Hmong neighbor about the traditional religious

[byronius]

1. I work with the Hmong, and it's an interesting history and story they have.

They all admit it's difficult to adhere to the practices that were routine in Laos and Thailand once they're exposed to full-on Western culture. Like anyone with somewhat anti-scientific views, they tend to relent when their sick child can be cured by advanced neuroscience. Even the older folk now combine the two, which would have been considered heresy back in Laos.

A young man I've worked with for years was going to be a shaman, but has since let go of that idea. We've had long discussions about how religious hierarchy works, and the psychology behind it -- he gets it.

None of the things they believe are any crazier than deep-South evangelicals, however.