Merpati A., Kalimantan: "There is now a strong movement in Indonesia that tries to reform the Holy Quran. The movement calls itself liberal Islam and has members who studied theology (religion) in Western countries. They also have a strong presence in the Indonesian Department of Religion (Departemen Agama). Basically, what these liberal members of Islam say is that the Holy Quran was appropriate for the time when the Prophet was alive, because many men were killed in wars. But the Holy Quran, so they say, doesn't apply in the same way today. But do they really believe that Allah wrote a book that becomes outdated? Are they still Muslims or already Christians? After all, Christians always change the contents of the Bible to make it according to the current fashion of thought."
Kalimantan / Central Kalimantan
Central Kalimantan
is the biggest province on the island, covering 153,800 square
kilometers, most of which is jungle. The northern area is mountainous
and difficult to reach. The central area is dense tropical forest.
The southern are is swampy and has many rivers. The climate is
hot and humid.
The three
sub-tribes who inhabit this province are the Ngaju, Ot Danum,
and Ma'ayan Ot Siang. The Ngaju are nomadic, adhering to the old
Kaharingan religion, which is a form of ancestor worship mixed
with elements of animism. With approximately 6,000 people, the
Ot Danum is the largest among the three sub-tribes. The Ot Danum
live in long houses, which sometimes have as many as 50 rooms.
The women are known for their skill in plaiting rattan, palm leaves,
and bamboo. Like other Dayaks, the men are good hunters, using
simple tools.
The art of
Central Kalimantan clearly bears the marks of the Kaharingan religion,
which is the traditional belief of the Dayaks in the hinterland
of Central Kalimantan. Building styles, statues and carvings have
been influenced by the Hindus, Chinese, and Hindu-Javanese. Aside
from their aesthetic properties, many objects are appreciated
for their magic value.
I even believe that modern rich societies should allow women who can afford the financial burden to contract other women to carry their eggs, fertilized by the sperm of a man of their own choice.
http://www.asiatour.com/indonesia/e-08kali/ei-kal13.htm
Jan Garanoz
Juhu Tara Road, Juhu,
Mumbai - 400049 India
Last updated: May 10, 2010