Christianity, Islam and Nationalism in Indonesia (Routledge Contemporary Southeast Asia Series)

256 Pages·2005·1.99 MB·English

by  Charles E. Farhadian

Christianity, Islam, and Nationalism
in Indonesia
As the largest Muslim country in the world, Indonesia is marked by an extraordinary
diversity of languages, traditions, cultures, and religions. Christianity, Islam,and
Nationalism in Indonesiafocuses on Dani Christians of West Papua, providing a
social and ethnographic history of the most important indigenous population in
the troubled province. It presents a captivating overview of the Dani conversion
to Christianity, examining the social, religious, and political uses to which they
have put their new religion.
Farhadian provides the first major study of a highland Papuan group in an
urban context, which distinguishes it from the typical highland Melanesian
ethnography. Incorporating cultural and structural approaches, the book affords
a fascinating look into the complex relationship among Christianity, Islam,
nation making, and indigenous traditions. Based on research over many years,
Christianity, Islam, and Nationalism in Indonesia offers an abundance of new
material on religious and political events in West Papua. The book underlines
the heart of Christian–Muslim rivalries, illuminating the fate of religion in
late-modern times.
Charles E. Farhadian is Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at Westmont
College, Santa Barbara, California.
Routledge Contemporary Southeast Asia Series
1 Land Tenure,Conservation and Development in Southeast Asia
Peter Eaton
2 The Politics of Indonesia–Malaysia Relations
One kin, two nations
Joseph Chinyong Liow
3 Governance and Civil Society in Myanmar
Education, health and environment
Helen James
4 Regionalism in Post-Suharto Indonesia
Edited by Maribeth Erb, Priyambudi Sulistiyanto, and
Carole Faucher
5 Living with Transition in Laos
Market integration in Southeast Asia
Jonathan Rigg
6 Christianity,Islam,and Nationalism in Indonesia
Charles E. Farhadian
7 Violent Conflicts in Indonesia
Analysis, representation, resolution
Edited by Charles A. Coppel
8 Revolution,Reform and Regionalism in Southeast Asia
Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam
Ronald Bruce St John
Christianity, Islam, and
Nationalism in Indonesia
Charles E. Farhadian
First published 2005
by Routledge
270 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10016
Simultaneously published in the UK
by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group
© 2005 Charles E. Farhadian
This edition published in the Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2005.
“To purchase your own copy of this or any of Taylor & Francis or Routledge’s
collection of thousands of eBooks please go to www.eBookstore.tandf.co.uk.”
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or
reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic,
mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter
invented, including photocopying and recording or in any
information storage or retrieval system, without permission in
writing from the publishers.
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Christianity, Islam, and nationalism in Indonesia / [edited by]
Charles E. Farhadian.
p. cm. – (Routledge Contemporary Southeast Asia Series; 6)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
1. Christianity – Indonesia. 2. Islam – Indonesia. 3. Religion and
politics. 4. Nationalism – Indonesia. 5. Nationalism – Religious
aspects. I. Farhadian, Charles E., 1964– II. Series.
BR1220.C47 2005
305.8'99120951–dc22 2004030017
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
All photography reproduced with the kind permission of either
Stephan Babuljak (www.bbjphoto.com) or Charles E. Farhadian
a. in-text photos are from either Babuljak or Farhadian (see specific plates)
b. coverimage is by Stephan Babuljak
ISBN 0-203-00755-7 Master e-book ISBN
ISBN 0–415–35961–9(Print Edition)
To the memory of my father,
Edward Charles Farhadian

Contents
List of plates ix
Preface xi
Acknowledgments xv
List of abbreviations xix
Map of West Papua xxi
1 Conflicting visions and constructing identities: beyond
splendid isolation 1
2 The Western mission enterprise and the New Order’s
New Society: instilling the visions 13
3 Jayapura and transformations of the New Society: down
from the mountain 49
4 Secularizing society: the struggle of Christianity
in West Papua 72
5 The vision of the church: the New Jerusalem 106
6 The desecularization of Dani religiosity and
identity: “all in the making” 149
7 Conclusion: beyond mission Christianity 179
Appendices 189
Glossary 193
Notes 195
Bibliography 204
Index 229

Plates
2.1 Baliem Valley 43
2.2 Western Dani highland complex 43
2.3 Pasar Nyak, Wamena 44
2.4 Dani women in front of garbage dump 44
2.5 Dani Bible students 45
2.6 Western Dani youth 45
2.7 Western Dani Bible village 45
2.8 Dani burning movement monument 46
2.9 Dani church 46
2.10 Wamena storefront 47
2.11 Grand Valley Dani men breaking rocks 47
2.12 Highland mosque sign, Walesi 48
2.13 Highland mosque and village, Walesi 48
5.1 Transmigration shantytown, Jayapura 144
5.2 Movie theater, Jayapura 144
5.3 Taxi stand, Jayapura 145
5.4 Dani boy 145
5.5 Papuan batik store, Jayapura 146
5.6 Weary transmigrant 146
5.7 Urban Dani youth 147
5.8 Dani woman reading the Bible 147
5.9 Multiethnic church Sunday school class 147
5.10 Indonesian soldier 148
5.11 Post-New Order newspapers 148