The Original Religion of Micronesians: Is it Christianity?

Luv4All_Hatred4NoneLuv4All_Hatred4None Message Luv4All_Hatred4None
edited April 2014 in Religion
There has been enough discussion on why Muslims or other faiths should not be allowed in Micronesia. My question is that is Christianity really the religion of the original Micronesians? I am afraid, not so. Christianity has only come to the Islands much later in 18 or 19 hundreds. 

Before Christianity, what was the religion of our forefathers for thousands of years? Are we Christians because it was the only faith brought to our Islands? What if Buddhists or Hindes or Muslims had come here before the Christian missionaries. Had we been converted to the other faiths then? Did our forefathers have enough knowledge about the Bible before accepting it or was it the only option available?

I would like to know what you think about.
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Comments

  • ApwetheApwethe Message Apwethe
    INTERESTING!
  • kinenkinen Message kinen
    I don't know the other places but Trukese originals, I believe, were "SuperNaturalist".
  • pekalongpekalong Message pekalong
    Wow!! Is that right?
  • FactsMatterFactsMatter Message FactsMatter
    Although there is almost no written evidence, most scholars believe that the basic patterns of religion were probably similar throughout most of Micronesia. Micronesians were polytheists, believing in several high gods, a large number of spirits attached to specific localities or performing specific functions, and a number of ancestors and deceased neighbours who could sometimes make contact with their living descendants and friends. 

    Practices associated with each of these three major categories of supernatural beings tended to be distinct and to be handled by different specialists, although a specific being might gradually shift from one category to the other.

    Micronesians generally believed in at least three vertically arranged levels of the universe: the heaven or sky world, the earth, and the underworld. 

    After 1900 Christianity became well established in most major centres in Micronesia. For the most part, traditional religions ceased being practiced in their full original form, although in Yap and some atolls of the central Carolines, traditional religion continued to be practiced until the middle of the 20th century. 

    Missionaries and travelers recorded descriptions of certain aspects of the island religions, but there is no complete and systematic account.
  • pekalongpekalong Message pekalong
    From my own point of view I think there is no wrong with the supernatural practices practiced in Micronesia but its become wrong with when one is using this practice in a wrong way when they used it to hurt or destroyed others.    
  • sinbadsinbad Message sinbad
    edited April 2014
    Traditionally, pekalong, many people were equipped with the ability to cast a spell and/or cure. That was the basis of our religion. Cure or Kill, supernaturally.
  • pekalongpekalong Message pekalong
    TRADITIONALLY, CURE or KILL, SUPERNATURALLY? Was that you've mentioned written in the bible? Just curios. 
  • Fran HezelFran Hezel Message Fran Hezel
    A couple of years ago MicSem put out a video on traditional religions in Micronesia under the title "When Spirits Roamed."  It should have gotten to the local TV channels around the region. You might check this out for a description of prechristian religious practices in the islands.
  • FactsMatterFactsMatter Message FactsMatter
    Is the video also available on the MicSem website?  Or anywhere online?
  • Fran HezelFran Hezel Message Fran Hezel
    I'm not sure. But you could check the not yet live website: http://new.micsem.org. ; If you can't find it there, email one of the MicSem workers: aletha@micsem.org.
  • uperemuperem Message uperem
    Alii from Palau, Fr. Fran.......nice to hear from you again.....    
  • sinbadsinbad Message sinbad
    pekalong,

    Our traditional believe was not written in the Bible. You may want to know that the Bible was written by those far far away from our part of the world and in the days when we were not aware of the God we have now come to know.
  • Luv4All_Hatred4NoneLuv4All_Hatred4None Message Luv4All_Hatred4None
    Is it true that we are all Christians because that was the only choice our forefathers had? If so, what's wrong with Micronesians believing in other faiths after finding truth in them.

  • pekalongpekalong Message pekalong
    Thank you sinbad, like what I've said, I'm curious. 
  • FolueisomwFolueisomw Message Folueisomw
    Our micronesian religion believes in many spirits, infact every thing has a spirit whether its a living thing or not.
  • pekalongpekalong Message pekalong
    Good point there Folueisomw.
  • keepsmiling87keepsmiling87 Message keepsmiling87
    Our micronesian religion believes in many spirits, infact every thing has a spirit whether its a living thing or not.
    Very interesting! 
  • pekalongpekalong Message pekalong
    8->
  • InemezInemez Message Inemez
    ...
  • sinbadsinbad Message sinbad
    Is there another religious belief in Micronesia beside Christianity and our traditional believes?
  • FolueisomwFolueisomw Message Folueisomw
    Back in the days everything were very well respected because of the believe that every thing had a spirit. From the dwellings of the sea to the skies and everything in between.
  • pekalongpekalong Message pekalong
    Back in the days? Why is there any changes there in? I thought the gospel was expanding with all these religions coming in. Other religion might have different names but what they have is the same with what everyone believe the original religion which is the gospel of Jesus Christ. 
  • keepsmiling87keepsmiling87 Message keepsmiling87
    Back in the days? Why is there any changes there in? I thought the gospel was expanding with all these religions coming in. Other religion might have different names but what they have is the same with what everyone believe the original religion which is the gospel of Jesus Christ. 
    Come again?
  • pekalongpekalong Message pekalong
    Is there any changes there in when these other religion coming into the life of many Micronesian? Could you identified what really  went wrong that you guys been blaming these other religions for? 
  • ssearcher1ssearcher1 Message ssearcher1
    Thanks Pek and all. But, if you're like me who believed what the Holy Bible says, then I believe our anchesters are the offspring of what went after the fall of the tower of Babel. Also, if we believe bible, then it is clear that all human race came from Adam and Eve. Other than that, it is up to anyone choosing. God bless.
  • pekalongpekalong Message pekalong
    Exactly my friend ssearcher1. If that is so then why are so many ignorant and oppositions to other religions? 
  • ssearcher1ssearcher1 Message ssearcher1
    Exactly my friend pekalong. But, let me assure of this quote that not all encounters of life means to be positive.

    Rather, what other people say about me or my religion is their problem, not mine. – Don’t take other people’s negativity personally. Most negative people behave negatively not just to you, but to everyone they interact with. What they say and do is a projection of their own reality. Even when a situation seems personal – even if someone insults you directly – it oftentimes has nothing to do with you. What others say and do, and the opinions they have, are based entirely on their own self-reflection. How is that my friend?
  • pekalongpekalong Message pekalong
    Sounds perfect and thank you.
  • FolueisomwFolueisomw Message Folueisomw
    Who still practices spiritism today ??
  • ssearcher1ssearcher1 Message ssearcher1
    Maybe fortune tellers? I don't know but those whom I believe practice talking to the dead corps?
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