Batak church advised to be flexible<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The North Sumatra-based Toba Batak Protestant
\nChurch (HKBP) should accommodate the province's traditional
\nvalues as a means of gaining a wider following, a Batak scholar
\nargued over the weekend.<\/p>\n
A.A. Sitompul, a lecturer at the University of Nommensen in
\nPematang Siantar, North Sumatra, said at a seminar here on
\nSaturday that the HKBP should be more flexible in its approach to
\nthe indigenous culture.<\/p>\n
\"All religions have gained their institutionalization through
\ntribal cultures,\" he said. The seminar held at the University of
\nSatya Negara and featured noted Batak scholars focused on the
\ndevelopment of the HKBP.<\/p>\n
The HKBP, which has long been rocked by internal conflicts so
\nserious that the military has often intervened, is Indonesia's
\nlargest church, with over 3 million members.<\/p>\n
It has branches in other provinces where the Batak community
\nis sizable.<\/p>\n
Sitompul said the church should have the courage to
\naccommodate the cultures of the various sub-ethnic Batak groups,
\nso that it might be acceptable to a wider spectrum of the Batak
\ncommunity.<\/p>\n
\"The late Nommensen was successful in propagating Christianity
\nin Batak areas thanks largely to his ability to respect the
\nBatak people and their culture,\" he said.<\/p>\n
S.M. Simoramgkir of the Jakarta-based Indonesian Christian
\nUniversity proposed that the HKBP conduct research into the Batak
\ncommunity's \"social philosophy\".<\/p>\n
That knowledge, Simorangkir argued, would provide the HKBP
\nwith a deeper understanding of Batak people.<\/p>\n
Bihelman Sidabutar of the state Academy of Technology
\nexpressed concern that the globalization of information was
\nhaving negative effects on the younger generation of Bataks.<\/p>\n
\"Many Batak youths do not know anything about Batak culture
\nand many are even ashamed to tell others that they are Bataks,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Batak culture has always been associated with backwardness and
\nconservatism, he said. (rms)<\/p>",
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