The effect of the Dayak worldview, customs, traditions, and customary law (adat-istiadat) on the interpretation of the Gospel in West Kalimantan, Indonesian Borneo

Personal, family, and community affairs of Dayaks, the indigenous people of West Kalimantan (Indonesian Borneo), are regulated by bodies of social and cultural norms, laws, ceremonies, and rituals called 'adat'. ' Adat' is founded on, and intertwined with animistic beliefs. Dayaks traditionally live in small isolated villages in the tropical rainforests of Kalimantan where they subsist primarily through swidden (slash-and-burn) agriculture. 'Adat' is relied upon to provide guidance for surviving in the face of the many challenges posed by the environment. ' Adat' provides guidance for deciding on the time and place to clear forest for planting, and when to plant and harvest. It includes regulations that guide interpersonal and community relationships and activities. Preservation of physical health, avoidance of injury, and healing from disease and injury when they occur is an important function of 'adat'. 'Adat' is based on a view of the world as consisting of visible (physical) and invisible (spiritual) elements. There is interaction and mutual influence between these two realms at every level and in every aspect of life. It is essential to maintain harmony between the visible and invisible realms. When there is discord of any kind--between people, or between spirit forces and people--the spirit forces might express their displeasure by interfering for ill in human affairs. When misfortune occurs it is often diagnosed as caused by an offence against some spiritual beings or forces that must then be appeased with appropriate rituals, payments, or taboos. Spirit beings and forces also rely on attention and care from humans and thus can be negotiated with to influence human events for good in exchange for favors. The primary role of the Dayak traditional belief system as embodied in 'adat' is to ensure survival and well being in the physical realm. Many Dayaks have readily adopted Christianity. Frequently, however, they resort to traditional beliefs and practices in times of personal, family, or community crises. This may happen because Christianity, which conflicts with many traditional Dayak beliefs and practices, does not purport to be a system for ensuring physical subsistence, health, and safety. The absence of adequate medical care, appropriate modern farming technology and inputs, combined with a worldview in which physical events are caused by spiritual elements, leads many Dayak converts to Christianity to respond in traditional ways during times of crises. In the presentation of the Gospel, and in subsequent discipleship and teaching, Dayak Christians need to address the issue of the different goals and expectations of Christianity and traditional Dayak beliefs, specifically that Christianity does not purport to be an avenue for ensuring physical subsistence. When Dayaks hear the Gospel, the message is filtered through their worldview, which is embodied in 'adat'. An Indonesian language study guide based on this examination of the differences between traditional Dayak beliefs and Christianity was circulated among Dayak church leaders. The study guide was intended to catalyze discussion about the different intentions of Christianity and traditional beliefs, with the hope and expectation that Dayak Christians themselves will develop a biblically based theology appropriate to their particular cultural setting.

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