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