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Islam is the newest "kid on the block" as far as religions, followed by Christianity, and before that? Buddhism?
I work with a number of Philipino's, and most of them are "devout" Christians, and so I asked one of them one night: Before Christianity was shoved down your throats, what religion was prevalent before Christianity?
She didn't know! My guess? Buddhism!
And despite their claims of being Christian, I can't help but see Buddhist behavior in these people! So much spontaneous, live-for-the-moment type of behavior!
Sumatra used to be dominantly Buddhist while Hinduism is more prevalent in java, Bali, Lombok and parts of Borneo. However most of the rest of the country used to be Animist, only Java, Sumatra and Bali receives much of the Indian influence. Animist elements are mixed to Hindu-Buddhist religion that causes the religion to appear to have similar element that mistaken the population to see the religion as 1. Animist elements are still greatly in practice in Indonesia wheter they're Christian or Muslims for an intant, like Java and Torajaland.
Balinese are mostly fleeing Hindus of Java when Majapahit collaspe, there is native Hindus there too but the number of fleeing Hindus mixing with the locals have replaced the original inhabbitant, leaving only those in mountainous areas of Bali such as Tengger.
Islamic believe in Java are often mixed with Buddhist-Hindu elements, if you are interested to see how the Javanese see religion watch this:
The Javanese are quiet hierachist, the Muslim are divided among Santri (10%) who practice pure Islamic believe, Abangan who mixed their religion, and royalties who is very traditionalist and is practicer of Kejawen. This is also a rason why the Javanese still practices their black magic believes and most of their pre-Islam ceremonies, it also applies to most other provinces. The Sumatran, Sundanese, and Maduranese on the contrary are religious Muslim, but you can trace some of their practices to their Buddhist root. The Batak of Sumatra are also quiet Tribalist despite their Christian believe.
There is still Hindu villages scattered in Java and also there is minor conversion of traditionalist Javanese to Hinduism (also Christianity).
Isn't it Budhism is a way of life and not a religion per se?
As for Islam and Christianity, I understand that Christianity is one of the two ancient religions (i.e., Judahism and Christianity). Judhaism dates back before the coming of Christ (BC) while christianity startted upon the birth of Jusus. Islam, on the other hand, started in 600 AD.
I'm not familiar with Taoism, Confucianism and Hinduism.
I believe, in Northern Philippines, most of the people were pagans before the arrival of the spanish.
Ahhh i also forgot that Indonesia have monuments of its past glorious days before Islam such as borobudur (the largest Buddhist monument and script book on earth) and also Prambanan, and the many scattered temples all around Java. Some of these ruins were in fact converted again to Hindu temples, but of course permits is quiet limited. These temples in fact are considered sacred by the locals and especially practitioner of Kejawen.
So yeah pretty much we won't forget our heritages, before Islam arrives in Indonesia and also we used Garuda the Hindu mythical birds as the national symbol. The Javanese also used a lot of Hindu elements for their culture, philosophy and art, that's why we have Ramayana ballet practiced here. (apart from Bali)
Quote:
Originally Posted by 62914
Isn't it Budhism is a way of life and not a religion per se?
As for Islam and Christianity, I understand that Christianity is one of the two ancient religions (i.e., Judahism and Christianity). Judhaism dates back before the coming of Christ (BC) while christianity startted upon the birth of Jusus. Islam, on the other hand, started in 600 AD.
I'm not familiar with Taoism, Confucianism and Hinduism.
I believe, in Northern Philippines, most of the people were pagans before the arrival of the spanish.
That varies for different personals, most of the Buddhist here see it as religion and believed in one God who is above Buddha himself. I suppose that's something to do with our Pancasila decree during independence. But i believe its accepted as a religion because you are believing into a spiritual being.
Before Spain Philippines was mixture of Muslims, Hindu, Buddhist, and Animist, but i think the animist tribal groups dominate the whole country.
Ahhh i also forgot that Indonesia have monuments of its past glorious days before Islam such as borobudur (the largest Buddhist monument and script book on earth) and also Prambanan, and the many scattered temples all around Java. Some of these ruins were in fact converted again to Hindu temples, but of course permits is quiet limited. These temples in fact are considered sacred by the locals and especially practitioner of Kejawen.
So yeah pretty much we won't forget our heritages, before Islam arrives in Java and also we used Garuda the Hindu mythical birds as the national symbol. The Javanese also used a lot of Hindu elements for their culture, philosophy and art, that's why we have Ramayana ballet practiced here. (apart from Bali)
That varies for different personals, most of the Buddhist here see it as religion and believed in one God who is above Buddha himself. I suppose that's something to do with our Pancasila decree during independence. But i believe its accepted as a religion because you are believing something into a spiritual being.
Before Spain Philippines was mixture of Muslims, Hindu, Buddhist, and Animist, but i think the animist tribal groups dominate the whole country.
Philippines didn't really have a religion except in the South.
Ahhh i also forgot that Indonesia have monuments of its past glorious days before Islam such as borobudur (the largest Buddhist monument and script book on earth) and also Prambanan, and the many scattered temples all around Java. Some of these ruins were in fact converted again to Hindu temples, but of course permits is quiet limited. These temples in fact are considered sacred by the locals and especially practitioner of Kejawen.
So yeah pretty much we won't forget our heritages, before Islam arrives in Indonesia and also we used Garuda the Hindu mythical birds as the national symbol. The Javanese also used a lot of Hindu elements for their culture, philosophy and art, that's why we have Ramayana ballet practiced here. (apart from Bali)
That varies for different personals, most of the Buddhist here see it as religion and believed in one God who is above Buddha himself. I suppose that's something to do with our Pancasila decree during independence. But i believe its accepted as a religion because you are believing into a spiritual being.
Before Spain Philippines was mixture of Muslims, Hindu, Buddhist, and Animist, but i think the animist tribal groups dominate the whole country.
I suppose that would depend on how you view it, pagan is described as any religion with the "historical" polytheistic traditional believe, however its often used to describe non-Abrahamic religion itself, in a negative way.
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