Wor fan manseren nanggi's religious rites of the biak-noemfoor people as a confession to the God of Israel

Abstract

The title of this thesis, "WOR FAN MANSEREN NANGGI'S RELIGIOUS RITES OF THE BIAK-NOEMFOOR PEOPLE AS A CONFESSION TO THE GOD OP ISRAEL", with the subtitle: There is only one God because there is only one Sky, has demonstrated my observation on this religious rites. The hypothesis I am proposing in this thesis is that the so-called Wor Fan Manseren Nanggi's religious rites or religious rites of the Biak-Noemfoor people feeding the Sky, is a form of an indigenous Irianese worship. It was most known by evangelists in the past, in such a way that it could be used in the worships of the Evangelical Christian Church in Irian Jaya. It seems that the whole socio-religious and economic lives in its widest sense have been constituted by this religious rites as manifested in daily practice. The religious rites of Wor Fan Maseren Nanggi have been an essential aspect of the whole Christian life of the people. And, it is obvious that it has become the core of the indigenous religion, i.e. confession to the Lord of the Skies - the God of Israel - who was incarnated within this tribal religion, as evidenced in the use of terminology "Jesus Manaeren Mang- gundi" (Jesus God Himself). This utterance has been an integral part of the Christian faith in Biak-Noemfoor. This thesis is composed of four parts namely, introduction and four chapters. In the introduction I provide the reasons of this study, the problems encountered, hypothesis as well as its relevance. The first chapter describe the background as well as the tradition and development of "Wor Fan Manseren Nanggi's religious rites” which deal with the society of Biak-Noemfoor people, their religion, customs, cosmology, and magic tools; the dow; and wor concept about Manseren Nanggi and the influence of the KORERI mesianic movement. In chapter two, I have attempted to show how the the Manseren Nanggi Biak-Noemfoor is seen in the context of the revelation of the God of Israel, based on Romans 9-11. It is also seen in its relation to Judaism and Christianity, in God's revelation as being transcendent as well as condescending, Israel's history, the covenant structure in the Torah as Israel's way of life, in the Ketubim and Nebiim, the way of Israel in the New Testament and forward looking, Israel and the church. Chapter three is a theological reflexion on how to believe in Jesus Manseren Manggudi in the context where National Development is being carried out in East Indonesia, especially in Biak-Noemfoor, Irian Jaya. Here I suggest that "Wor Fan Manseran Nanggi's religious rites" is an expression of a confession to the God of Israel; something like a wild sprout being attached to and has been able to live only from the roots of the olive tree. Besides, I also propose that there is a close relationship between the two; there is only one sky because there is only one God. Other things which are comparable are as follows:-The transformation of Manarmakeri in the flame and the Ressurection of Jesus Manseren Manggundi.-The Wor Pan Manseren Nanggi's religious rites and those in Ancient Israel. Chapter four discusses the relevance of this study for National Development in East Indonesia, especially in Irian Jaya. Also there are conclusions and suggestions for Church and Theology.