Balinese Catholics relate to God as Balinese

Bali is a Hindu island in a Muslim country. Here in Bali you can find many mosques (masjid) and churches. In west Bali there are 2 villages Palasari (catholic) and Belimbingsari (protestant), so far there has been no trouble between the 2 villages.

Balinese Hinduism (Agama Hindu) does a clever thing, it combines Hindu teachings, with animist beliefs (ancestor worship, good and evil spirits etc.), allowing the individual to feel a more personal connection to the religion. Religions develop out of mythologies, that reflect people’s ideas, about how they fit into the world and how they communicate with ‘higher powers’. The problem some religions run into is, they don’t leave people with a personal attachment, as the mythology / religion didn’t originate in their area.

For example Christianity and Islam were born in the Middle East. I’m not from the Middle East, so I don’t feel either represents me. Some people swallow what they’re told, hook line and sinker, others need more.

An article from TheIndianCatholic.com, talks about a group of Balinese Christians, who have introduced items of their own culture, into Christian worship, in order to help them relate to God as a Balinese.