Articles tagged ‘Religion’
Indian Hinduism differs from Balinese Agama Hindu
By Nick | September 21st, 2005 |
1 Comment »
At the moment 2 of Chris"s former room mates from London, Anil from England and Pria from Malaysia. Both are Hindu and it is interesting to see their reaction to the Balinese Agama Hindu.
Hard-line Muslims blocks access to churches in Java
By Nick | September 12th, 2005 | 2 Comments »
An Indonesian law that has been on the books since 1969 that makes it all but impossible for Christians to open churches is in the news again. Recently in Bekasi W. Java Muslims hard-liners from the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI), blocked access to 2 churches.
Pagarwesi: An important ceremony for Balinese
By Nick | July 25th, 2005 | 5 Comments »
Balinese Hindus celebrate Pagerwesi ceremony every six months based on Bali's calender system (210 days). Pagarwesi means "iron fence," and is a day to strengthen one's fortification against evil. The offerings to the Gods and ask for spiritual power to cope with hardship and misfortune. Offerings are made for the uncremated dead at the cemeteries.
Sharia law: I'm not moving to Aceh any time soon
By Nick | July 25th, 2005 | 7 Comments »
Todays Jakarta Post featured an article on how Sharia law is carried out in Aceh. Sharia law is traditional Islamic law, which while has its good points, just doesn't sound like a fun way to live. Sharia law was introduced to Aceh in 2003 when it was granted special autonomy.
Checking out a cool local temple near Mengwi Bali
By Nick | July 4th, 2005 | Add a Comment »
On the way through the small lanes north of Sangeh Monkey Forest I saw a small local temple with an 11-tiered meru, very important in Balinese culture. Ordinarily a temple might have a few different merus and an important temple might have a 9-tiered roof (they are always odd numbers). Eleven is the max and [...]
Balinese Animism
By Nick | June 10th, 2005 | 3 Comments »
Bali is for the most part a Hindu island with the form of that religion being known as Agama Hindu. The original inhabitants of Bali, the Bali Aga practiced animist beliefs and when Hinduism arrived in 1343, it was fitted onto the existing belief system. Balinese Hinduism differs greatly from Indian Hinduism in the ceremonies, [...]
Wetu Telu: A very different brand of Islam in Lombok.
By Nick | May 10th, 2005 | 5 Comments »
Indonesia is the worlds largest Muslim country. I have mentioned before that the brand of Islam practiced here seems to be a liberal and accepting form. Lombok has a branch of the Muslim religion called Wetu Telu, which is a major divergence from all other forms. The Wetu Telu still strongly believe in ancestor worship [...]
Balinese Hindu Gods: Learn about them in under 5 minutes.
By Nick | May 10th, 2005 | 1 Comment »
Balinese Agama Hindu (Agama meaning religion) is really an amalgam of traditional animist beliefs with Hinduism overlaid, rather like how Christianity is superimposed on African beliefs in Latin America. Still the Balinese still do recognize and worship Hindu Gods and here is a run down of some of the most mentioned.
President Susilo leads the way on Muslim reform in Indonesia
By Nick | May 1st, 2005 | 9 Comments »
Indonesia is the worlds largest Muslim country. Certain parts of Indonesia, Central Java and Lombok, for example are centers for religious observance although the general atmosphere is one of tolerance, with a liberal form of Islam being practiced. Recently President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono addressed a congress of Indonesian Muslims at the Istiqlal mosque and stressed [...]
Location location location when it comes to temples in Bali
By Nick | April 23rd, 2005 | 1 Comment »
Sitting at my table at the Sailfin restaurant on the beach in Kuta I have a direct view of the beach and the breaking waves. Just down from my window is a small Balinese temple which has a few scattered canang, the small square trays of offerings. Balinese temples can seem bare and unattractive on [...]
