Jesus’ policy was to always show love and kindness no matter what type of person they were and make sure that they in turn show love and kindness to others. In a culture such as the Sawi’s in which elaborate deception and flair with which they eliminate their enemies is the source of honor and entertainment, Jesus would want us to make them look at the error of their ways and set them straight; adamantly, for sure, but never through violence or coercion.
The Sawi had a firm belief in demons and witchcraft. It is interesting to note how an entire society could be so devoted towards evil. Many tribal societies believed in gods who would protect, help, and govern them but very few believed in demons only. As for witchcraft, though many societies had them or something like them, they are almost always looked down upon in society. In the Sawi culture, however, witchcraft and sorcery is a valued trait and Aham, the village sorceress in the book, is looked upon as an authority. The third and biggest evil in this culture is the whole “fattening with friendship for the slaughter idea”. Even cannibalism can be justified to a degree in that if no other food sources exist or even if they do, it is scarce and dangerous to get them. However, to enjoy trickery and treachery is another story. By human nature, we should be repulsed at least a little bit by evil but the Sawi culture had become twisted to such an extent that this instinct has been crushed out of them.
Jesus would have wanted us to stop these evil deeds from going on and implement humanity back into them. Humans aren’t born without humanity and the only reason why the new generation was following these customs are because of their forefathers. Jesus would want us to break this vicious circle. Don Richardson did this exact thing when he converted the Sawi into Christians, a slightly edited version of Christianity, but Christians nonetheless. The Sawi were known to be the most vicious tribe and had quite a reputation for it with the neighboring tribes. Turning the most violent into the most benevolent would have a profound influence over the entire region.
"Jesus’ policy was to always show love and kindness no matter what type of person they were and make sure that they in turn show love and kindness to others. In a culture such as the Sawi’s in which elaborate deception and flair with which they eliminate their enemies is the source of honor and entertainment, Jesus would want us to make them look at the error of their ways and set them straight; adamantly, for sure, but never through violence or coercion."
ReplyDelete@Jesus' words and actions speak otherwise. Read the bible or even some records banned by romans
"The Sawi had a firm belief in demons and witchcraft. It is interesting to note how an entire society could be so devoted towards evil. Many tribal societies believed in gods who would protect, help, and govern them but very few believed in demons only."
@What's your definitions of "Gods" and "Demons"? And most tribal and non-tribal societies "believed" in the existence of gods who protect AND destroy. Look at monolatrism, polytheism and henotheism.
"As for witchcraft, though many societies had them or something like them, they are almost always looked down upon in society. In the Sawi culture, however, witchcraft and sorcery is a valued trait and Aham, the village sorceress in the book, is looked upon as an authority."
@A dicto secundum quid ad dictum simpliciter
"The third and biggest evil in this culture is the whole “fattening with friendship for the slaughter idea”. Even cannibalism can be justified to a degree in that if no other food sources exist or even if they do, it is scarce and dangerous to get them. However, to enjoy trickery and treachery is another story."
@Look at middle-eastern cultures. In cultural anthropology, aspects of a culture are adaptive, neutral, or maladaptive. Maladaptive practices are weeded out of societies. Also, the act of cannibalism, is not immoral, except for some ethical beliefs, eg. moral absolutism.
"By human nature, we should be repulsed at least a little bit by evil but the Sawi culture had become twisted to such an extent that this instinct has been crushed out of them."
@Obviously you and Sawi don't share the same sense of humour
"Jesus would have wanted us to stop these evil deeds from going on and implement humanity back into them.
@What is your basis for believing "Jesus would have wanted"?
"Humans aren’t born without humanity and the only reason why the new generation was following these customs are because of their forefathers. Jesus would want us to break this vicious circle."
@Petitio principii. Any of non-cognitivist, moral relativist, moral nihilist would disagree.
"Don Richardson did this exact thing when he converted the Sawi into Christians, a slightly edited version of Christianity, but Christians nonetheless. The Sawi were known to be the most vicious tribe and had quite a reputation for it with the neighboring tribes. Turning the most violent into the most benevolent would have a profound influence over the entire region."
@Some of your adjectives are incredibly subjective and incomparable.
lol wut? why is my username different?
ReplyDeleteSang, instead of writing these comments, how about writing your commentaries so that you actually turn them in on time. Lol
ReplyDelete