BY TIME "LETI"

 

Belief System

The inhabitants of Maluku are like human beings

Living in this world is influenced by the natural environment. Way of thinking

and their outlook on life really depends on

environment on which they depend for their livelihood.

The emergence of feelings of reluctance and fear of the challenges faced by nature encourages humans to

seek and find the secret behind the natural challenge earlier.

That's what drives people to believe

the existence of natural forces, so that a system arises

trust in the community.

Before the arrival of Islam and Christianity in Maluku,

the indigenous people in Maluku have had one belief which is

called genuine belief. This belief system consists of darts

animism and dynamism. Animism is

a belief system that assumes that the whole of nature is

inhabited by spirits or souls, there are good spirits and bad spirits.

In Maluku, belief in this spirit is associated with

ancestral spirits. Traditional ceremonies that have arrived

now it is still being implemented indicating the existence of the system

that trust. Besides that, there is trust

dynamism, namely the belief in strengths

magical properties possessed by certain objects, such as stones

large, large trees or heirloom objects. Besides that there is

also belief in certain holy places

and sacred. This original belief system is still today

are still found in various corners of the Maluku Islands.

In North Maluku, for example, worship of spirits

ancestors in Ternate called Gomangga. Rules from the ancestors are still held today

and fear being violated because it can wreak havoc.

Various forms of evil spirits are also known, including Hate- ·

madubo, Meki, Gonda which each inhabit

trees, mountains and caves. In Temate there is also one

belief in a supreme spirit called Gikirimoi

meaning the invisible supreme being who creates

earth and everything in it. Power handed over to

the first human he created and that human being

being the ancestor of the Temate people who are always revered. In Tidore the supreme spirit is called Jou Wange yang

passed down his strength to someone called

Momale, namely people who carry out traditional ceremonies.

In Central Maluku there is still worship of places that are considered sacred besides other places

which is scary. On the island of Ambon until today still

there is a vestige of that belief. For example; adoration of

Marawael stone in Hatalae village, Tampayang Setan on the mountain

Sirimau, worship of Batu Teong in the Uri countries

Meseng, worship of pamali stones at Baileo's house, sacred places in Pelau, Kabau and Ruhumoni villages and

certain places in Negeri-Lima located at

the mountains give an idea of the remnant

animism and dynamism. Everything as

a place to invoke strength by both the individual and the whole

villagers. These places are used as places

meet and talk with the spirits of the ancestors who have

die. There is a belief in magical powers,

for example treating sick people with blowing, use

Tali Kaeng (belt) as a talisman to avoid

from danger, and so on. But trust

there will be a supreme creator of everything in this world, too

believed. The term used is Upu Lanite or Upu

Datu.

In Southeast Maluku, especially in the Kei islands

Animist beliefs are known as Ngu-Mat.

while dynamism is called Wadar Metu. Both powers

This dominates people's lives, as evidenced by their existence

various traditional ceremonies in the form of worship

to Nit-Jamad-Ubud (ancestors), Ler Wuan

(sun and moon), Aiwarat (trees), Aiwat

(stones), Rahannyam (eyes of the house), Tun-Lair (cape and

pumpkin), Nuhu-Tanat (mountain-soil = hills and plains),

Wama-kasal (country-village center), and Kabur-hat (cemetery).

In these places people often hold

traditional ceremonies, and the one who presides over is the same Metuduan

with Mauweng in Central Maluku. Besides that

society knows amulets for self-strength

against sharp weapons called Mamar.

Remnants of this original belief are still maintained in

villages in Maluku even though they have declared themselves

as followers of Islam or Christianity. In fact there is

a mixture of rules and religious values with

original belief value rules known as syncretism.