False religions

False religions

By profession I am a spiritual guide, the title pastor, (being
a Latin word) signifying shepherd. It pains and humbles me,
therefore, to have to criticize my own profession in stating that
the spiritual leaders and guides in Indonesia (myself included)
have long neglected a basic need of many of our people, namely
protecting them from false religions in the guise of various
forms of superstition.

This is pervasive. But I wish to address it in reference to
two articles that appeared in your Oct. 6 edition, "Knowledge the
key to improving life of the poor" and "World Bank puts new stress
on know-how" (page 4 and page 5 respectively).

A not insignificant degree of a priest's day-to-day ministry
involves praying with, for and over the sick in an effort to
comfort and console those afflicted, together with their families
and friends, as well as to implore the Creator to intervene and
grant forgiveness and healing.

In this we have complete consensus from all parties and all
religions. But there is a murky area that needs much better
pastoral treatment and careful interpretation, namely exposing
the undemonstrable involvement of evil spirits which purportedly
cause all sorts of maladies, including physical and mental
weaknesses and defects, illness and even supposed demonic
possession.

Indirectly, these two articles of yours, and the source from
which they derive, are advising us that before we attribute
various kinds of maladies to supernatural or magical origins, we
should first use the knowledge available to us to maintain
health, improve our lot in general and to overcome adversity.

Two observations appall me: doctors being shunned in
preference to shamans (medicine men), and young people learning
the basics of health maintenance as a means to pass exams but not
believing in the application of this knowledge to everyday life.

I blame the doctors and their profession for not giving a more
convincing performance to their patients, and teachers and the
whole school system for "maintaining secrecy" in matters which
their students have a right to access, namely making knowledge a
part of living and not just schooling.

And of course I blame myself and all in my own profession for
being so fearful, hesitant, uncertain and in some cases even
manipulative in frequently maintaining an attitude of conspiring
to cast doubt on knowledge of human origin as though it were a
threat to God's word, God's will and God's power. I would like to
see the likes of your two articles translated into Indonesian and
published, with commentary, in religious magazines.

PASTOR THOMAS FIX.

Jakarta