1. World Religions and Missions
Robert D. Patton
Missionary to Suriname,
South America
2. Animism – the prevailing
worldview of folk religion
God is creator, but far away and usually not
helpful
Spirits have control of virtually everything
4. Animism – the prevailing
worldview of folk religion
There is mana - undifferentiated impersonal
spiritual power in things.
It can be “god” or impersonal power, like
electricity
it can be controlled
the shaman, witchdoctor, can control this power
Spirits themselves
they also can be good or evil
They can be controlled - but only partially
5. Folk vs. Formal Religion
Folk religion - a group of persons who
have more direct contact with the
local people, who may not have such a
clear understanding of the theories
involved...
Animism is closely related to folk
religion
Virtually every religion has a list of
gods (spirits) in their folk religion
6. Folk religion - small kin-based
Egalitarianism and holism
The leader works like everyone else
The main questions are practical and local in
nature, and focus on the middle level
In more complex societies, there is often a
mixture of things - formal and folk religion
with a lot of animism.
The vast majority of people believe in folk
religion
The issues are power and success
8. Magic
Basically amoral, belief that certain
rituals, etc result in what you want
it is not supplicating a being
Often homeopathy - like begets like
.Often contiguity - using someone’s hair, etc.
.Evil eye - a look may cause damage - thought
out of envy
.Astrology - sun, moon & stars radiate force that
has influence here
Medicines - usually no distinction between
physical and spiritual effects
9. Oral societies – magic
You don’t need to know why it
works, but just that it works
It is amoral, and can be used for
good or evil
6/4/2013 9Transforming Worldviews
10. Four main issues of folk religion
Death
Why and why now?
How will this affect my family?
The good life
.The west will call things an accident, or bad
luck - but most folk want more definitive
answers
Guidance in the unknown
The presence of evil
11. Folk vs. Formal Religion
Folk religion - a group of persons who
have more direct contact with the
local people, who may not have such a
clear understanding of the theories
involved...
Animism is closely related to folk
religion
Virtually every religion has a list of
gods (spirits) in their folk religion
12. Characteristics of Folk Religion
Humans are seen as the center of existence -
and often only that clan is truly human.
You can abuse others outside the group,
because they are “sub-human”
All things and activities are interconnected
No sharp boundaries between the mental and
physical world
Mind can influence impersonal objects or power
13. Characteristics of Folk Religion
People deal with what they can
control with science, and what
they cannot with folk religion
Big offerings for big deities who
may require blood sacrifices.
The group works often as a unit
Holistic view of life
14. Characteristics of Folk Religion
Time is different for different things -
planting, mythical, historical, ritual, etc.
Land and space are local too
Conversion is not attempted - can’t
change blood lines and locations
They are pragmatic - cover the bases,
hoping one will work
They are not worried about ultimate truth
You can have conflicting beliefs together
15. Folk vs. Formal Religion
There is usually a group of highly
trained specialists in “universal
religion” and the sacred books at the
centers of teaching.
.Formal religion - ultimate truth,
ultimate reality & logical questions at
the top level cosmic reality, destiny of
persons, etc
.This also has to do with groups of
people and with the individual
16. Characteristics of Folk Religion
They are focused on power
They are oral - relational, personal,
immediate.
Sounds are often important to
make things happen
No absolute distinction between
human and animal; animate and
inanimate.
17. Worldview – Small oral
societies
The world is alive with visible and
invisible forces; they have a holistic view
of life, and do not break into categories
Mother earth – brings forth life in all
forms
The earth is the lifeblood of the society,
although there is a high god who created
everything
6/4/2013 17Transforming Worldviews
19. Oral societies
All things in the area – village, river,
trees, etc share the same life force
All live together and interact; all are
inter-related and not apart
No distinction between natural and
supernatural
Animals, plants can be related to
humans – totem
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20. Oral societies
Animals, spirits and humans are both
good and evil
You can placate spirits and they will bless
you, or anger them and they are
vindictive
There is impersonal power – mana,
magic, medicines, evil eye, etc. energized
by the energy of the universe
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21. Oral societies – how to cope
Some places you can go meditate to
gain spiritual power, but some places
are dangerous (burial sites, etc) and
to be avoided.
You can learn to use impersonal
power to your advantage through
magic, bonoe, rituals, etc – or go to
shamans, witchdoctors,
6/4/2013 21Transforming Worldviews
22. Oral societies
Humans are most important –
ancestors, those living, and those not
yet born
To keep the clan or family going, you
may have to bribe the evil spirits
Persons are seen not as individuals
but part of an endless stream of the
family. Their well-being is tied into
the family’s well being6/4/2013 22
23. Oral societies
Ties between generations is more
than just blood-ties – but also spirit
and characteristics – social & spiritual
ties
Younger generations provide for the
elders by working; the older guide
and bless the younger
6/4/2013 23Transforming Worldviews
24. Ancestors
The spirit of the deceased needs food,
articles, etc to go to the land of the
dead and show his status, etc.
Otherwise he may be condemned to
stay and haunt the land
Ancestors are remembered but less and
less. Often they are prayed to for
blessing. Sometimes if you dream of an
ancestor, you need to make special
offerings6/4/2013 24
25. Oral societies
Unborn – important to hold tribal
lands so that they have something
Sometimes tribes are extended to
have relationships with animals or
plants – totemism
Usually group orientation – against
pride, and for humility
6/4/2013 25Transforming Worldviews
26. Oral societies
Relations are most important in living
Names may give characteristics to the
child
Sometimes it is taboo to use a name,
because you call their presence
Renegotiation of relationships means
that life is always a bit unplanned
6/4/2013 26Transforming Worldviews
27. Oral societies
Shame – they have let down the group
rather than guilt against a universal
moral law. Reconciliation is very
important.
The greatest punishment is shunning
and putting out of the group
6/4/2013 27Transforming Worldviews
28. Oral societies
Fertility is very important
Rituals are performed to continue
fertility of land, animals, game,
etc.
Rituals are important for human
fertility, especially at the time of
birth, when they are vulnerable
6/4/2013 28Transforming Worldviews
29. Oral societies
Earth – where humans, ancestors and
god meet – not a place to be exploited
Land is important where ancestors and
we live. Although time separates, the
land can draw together – this is where
my ancestor…
Land belongs to the gods; the families
decide who can use it…
6/4/2013 29Transforming Worldviews
30. Oral societies - Time
Time – event time, not chronological
time
They tend to eat to the full when food is
available, and go hungry when it is not
Time cannot be bought or run out
The past is not sharply demarcated from
the present – and future also not sharply
demarcated
6/4/2013 30Transforming Worldviews
31. Oral societies
Proverbs, sayings, “odo”, etc. are
wisdom itself – not supplemental to logic
Little sense of conversion to our gods,
because they are not in our family
Emphasis on particularity. People of our
family, tribe = human. Others are sub-
human
Depend on relational logic, not abstract
6/4/2013 31Transforming Worldviews
33. Characteristics of Folk Religion
Evil spirits can transform into animals or
humans. Mana is transferred to those
who eat him. This may be well part of
cannibalism
Spirits may be transported great
distances
Constant fear and need for security
35. Folk Religion vs. Christianity
Catholic - mostly split level,
Catholicism for church and life rites
Folk religion for everyday life
Examples may be in central and
South America
36. Folk Religion vs. Christianity
Protestant - there was a shift in belief
of angels during the enlightenment so
that they were lumped with God in the
supernatural and separated from the
natural world
There was a secularization of science
and mystification of religion
By rejecting the middle, Christianity
became a secularizing force
37. Life cycles in folk religion
Life cycles give persons worth as they pass
from one stage to another
Birth, initiation, marriage,death
Birth is considered important – the person is
given a spirit
One becomes human when given a name
May come from ancestral spirit,
Gift from the spirits, etc.
38. Life cycles…
All have some sort of initiation rites
when the person becomes fully a
member of the society - often puberty,
not always so
Give information to become responsible
Become active members
Change in status may be a change in name
Marriage rites are important - often
involving two families
Readjustment of roles
Often involves ancestors
39. Funeral rites
How to respond to the challenge of
death
Ritualize the separation of the
living from the dead
Realign social order
Assign the departed as ancestors
Some are considered evil spirits
which can wreck havoc on the living
40. Meaning in belonging
Most people see themselves as linked
in larger kinship groups as their true
identity
Life can be seen as a linkage from
one generation to another - tie is not
only biological but social and
spiritual as well.
41. Meaning in belonging
Sins or righteousness of parents can
effect the children.
This is the primary link, and family
can be called upon at any time to
help each other
All aunts and uncles are mothers and
fathers; all cousins are brothers and
sisters are linked together
42. Further characteristics
Totemism - the family is linked to some
animals - or also some plants.
Usually they will not eat the totem but
work to see that other families have food
Some land is linked with the gods and
sacred places and the cosmos
Individuals in the clan don’t own the
land, but have the right to use it
43. Characteristics of Folk Religion
The center of their location is often viewed
as the center of the universe
The periphery is also defined and protected
against the onslaught of evil men or spirits
by various rites
Homes may be important as well and are
more than simply places to dwell
People are honored as they contribute to
the community by what they do - for
example, shaman, doctor, etc.
Often people find meaning also in what
they buy
44. Religion gives meaning to
death -
Formal religion - where is the person
gone
Forgiveness is important
Meaning in life is important
Formal religion - what happens to
people after death?
.Folk religion - how can we keep
contact with the dead?
Chinese believe that they must
continue to provide for dead
ancestors, or bad things will happen
45. Religion gives meaning to
death -
Folk religion - what impacts the
living
Why did this happen? There
must be a reason – not just
chance
Why did this happen to us?
How can we be protected against
these things?
48. Ancestors in folk religion
Many believe that ancestors are part
of the living and have influence
depending on whether or not you care
for them properly
They founded the family
They live in an area where they can see
spirits, witches, etc and help protect the
family
50. Syncretic religion except…
Buddhism accommodates all other
religions except, of course, true
Christianity.
Buddhists can add any god or spirit
to their belief system, as long as
Buddhism is not denounced.
It becomes very important, then, to
press upon them the exclusivity of
Christ.
51. The Bush-Negro culture has
much witchcraft
Often the woman when pregnant will
make contact directly with the
witchdoctor. If she has trouble getting
pregnant, she will go sooner
She may make further contact and do
certain things during the pregnancy
52. Bush-Negro culture
After delivery: “poeroe da pikin na
doro” – the child is introduced to the
spirits, including dead ancestors, etc
Marks to protect against the evil eye
Amulets to protect early in childhood
Witchcraft for any sickness
53. Bush-Negro culture
Using
Amulets around the body
Wearing jewelry which has been “blessed”
Burying witchcraft items in the ground near
the house
Putting things over the door, or on the
path to the garden
54. Bush-Negro culture
“Washing” to come clean with
witchcraft items, especially New Year
Using white clay “Pimba doti” over the
body
Burial ceremonies which have much
witchcraft in them
55. Generational sins - Nehemiah
confesses sins of his fathers
Nehemiah 9:[16] But they and our
fathers dealt proudly, and hardened
their necks, and hearkened not to thy
commandments,…[34] Neither have our
kings, our princes, our priests, nor our
fathers, kept thy law, nor hearkened
unto thy commandments and thy
testimonies, wherewith thou didst testify
against them.
56. Generational sins – Daniel’s
confession
Daniel 9:[6] Neither have we hearkened unto thy
servants the prophets, which spake in thy name to
our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all
the people of the land.[7] O Lord, righteousness
belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces,
as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the
inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, that are
near, and that are far off, through all the countries
whither thou hast driven them, because of their
trespass that they have trespassed against thee.
57. Generational sins
This is apparently the basis foe the hold
of the evil spirits on many of our people
in Suriname….
But this can be broken
Any oaths
Any witchcraft
To the 4th generation – ourselves, parents,
grandparents, and parents of grandparents
58. What we see in our Bush
Negroes in Suriname
Again – these things effect the children too as they
participate by proxy, or even just because they are
in the family
They go to a “medicine person” while pregnant
They “introduce” the child to the spirits of the
ancestors a week after birth
They put a blue mark on the child to protect against
an “evil eye”
They tie amulets around the child from birth
59. What we see in Suriname
They go to a witch doctor with sicknesses
They wear amulets for protection
They have family rituals “washing with certain
plants” to help cleanse them from sins
They rub white clay over their skins
They have all sorts of ceremonies for the
dead spirits at death, and expect all the
family to participate.