Socio-cultural change influences the changes of Simalungun religion

ABSTRACT

This study analyzes the historical phenomena of zending in Batak tribe community. It focuses on the transition of Christianity among the Simalungun people, by using the primary and secondary sources tracked from various library locations, church archives, national archives in Jakarta, and private collections. The theme is categorized into cultural history, with source search (heuristic), source criticism, formulation of facts (aufassung), and presentation of new thoughts (darstellung), all narrated as historical stories. Other secondary sources came from a number of books, articles, and magazines, published in various eras. The cause of mass conversion among the Simalungun people is apparently related to the feudal structure of their society. The zendelings used both the community structure approach and customary approach. Consequently, the development of RMG zending activities in the Simalungun community, besides causing religious conversion from the Sipajuh Begu-begu tribe religion to Christianity, also gave rise to structural changes in the community.

KEYWORDS:

• Colonialism
• ethnicity
• ethnographic data
• pietism
• zending

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

1. Pietism is a movement that emphasizes piety and appreciation of faith. This movement arose in the Lutheran churches in Germany around 1675. The word ‘pietis’ comes from ‘pietas’, which is piety, and was given the name in ridicule of people who emphasized that the Christian faith must become visible in godly life. The ‘pietists’ felt dissatisfied with the church service effort which was considered to be stagnant at the time. See, de Jonge and Aritonang, Apa dan Bagaimana Gereja: Pengantar Sejarah Eklesiologi.

2. The term zending is used for Protestant evangelistic bodies, while for the Roman Catholic evangelistic bodies, the term mission is used. See De Kuiper, Missiologia. See also Steenbrink, Theological Development, 149.

3. Aritonang, Sejarah Pendidikan Kristen di Tanah Batak.

4. Berkhof and Enklaar, Sejarah Gereja.

5. den End, Ragi Carita 2: Sejarah Gereja di Indonesia 1860-an-sekarang.

6. Nommensen, Ompu i Dr.Ingwer Ludwig Nommensen.

7. Pedersen, Batak Blood and Protestant Soul.

8. Lempp, Benih Yang Tumbuh XII.

9. Saragih, Barita ni Tuan Rondahaim Na Ginoran Ni Halak Tuan Raja Na Mabadjan.

10. Arsip Nasional Republik Indonesia (National Archives of Indonesia), SoK MvO J. C. C. Haar.

11. Arsip Nasional Republik Indonesia (National Archives of Indonesia), SoK MvO J. C. C. Haar, ibid.

12. Breman, Menjinakkan Sang Kuli: Politik Kolonial Tuan kebun dan Kuli di Sumatera Timur Pada awal abad ke-20 (Translated: Koeslah Soebagyo Toer).

13. Randwijck,Oegstgeest: Kebijaksanaan Lembaga-Lembaga Pekabaran Injil Yang Bekerjasama 1897-1942.

14. Denzin and Lincoln, Handbook of Qualitative Research.

15. Abdullah and Suryomihardjo, Ilmu Sejarah dan Historiografi: Arah dan Persfektif.

16. Kartodirdjo, Pendekatan Ilmu Sosial Dalam Metodologi Sejarah.

17. Hockett, The Critical Method.

18. Martono, Metode Penelitian Sosial.

19. Kahija, Penelitian Fenomenologis Jalan Memahami Pengalaman Hidup.

20. See note 14 above.

21. Pelly, Urbanisasi dan Adaptasi.

22. See note 19 above.

23. Munthe, Riwayat Hidup Pandita August Theis (Missionar Voller Hoffnung).

24. Ibid.

25. Archive of GKPS, Tauf = Register (Daftar Babtis) Tahun 1913, op. cit. See also 60 Tahun Injil … op. cit., p. 30.

26. Tideman, Simeloengoen: Het Lan der Timoer-Bataks in Zijn Vroegere Isolatie en Zijn Ontwikkeling tot een deel van het Cultuurgebied van de Oostkust van Sumatera, Leiden: Stoomdrukkerij Louis H. Bacherer.

27. Simon initially served in 1897 in Pangaloan, South Tapanuli. In 1900, he served in afdeeling North Toba Tapanuli, and then from 22 May 1904, he worked in Simalungun. The Bandar and Siantar areas were designated as his working areas, so Bandar was used as the initial zending post. (See ANRI, Slu Besluit no. 8, 10 September 1897. Also ANRI, Slu Besluit no.1, 26 September 1900. Also ANRI, Slu Bisluit no. 10, 22 May 1904).

28. Tichelman, “Mededeelingen Beschrijving van Heiden-Batakschbegrafenisceremonieel in Simeloengoen (Sumatra’S Oostkust)’ dalam Tijdschrift voor Indische Taal-, Land-En Volkenkunde,” 321–7.

29. Angkat et al, “Construction of Religious Identity,” 487–94.

30. Langenberg,National Revolution in North Sumatra.

Additional information

Funding

This research is not supported by any funding.

Notes on contributors

Hisarma Saragih

Hisarma Saragih is a senior lecturer in Universitas Simalungun. He teaches cultural of some ethnics in Indonesia. One of his research is about the development of Christian Religion in Simalungun.

Muhammad Ridwan

Muhammad Ridwan is a lecturer in Universitas Islam Negeri Sumatera Utara (UINSU). He teaches cross-cultural understanding for ten years. He has published an article in Asian Ethnicity entitled,” Revitalization of the traditional values lost due to the commodification of art/crafts: a case study of Bataknese traditional Ulos.