Physics still have a say in lives of modern people
Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Most people relate modernity with rationality, but reality is rarely that simple.
The predictions of noted soothsayers for the coming year are printed in local papers, including the respected one, each new year here.
The forecasts usually revolve around politics, economics, business, romance, career, health and finance. The psychics get their "insights" through various methods, from reading a crystal ball, tarot cards, Chinese horoscopes or the Javanese calendar.
Many people never fail to read these articles, which explains the regular appearance of soothsaying in mass media. Every week the media sets aside pages for horoscopes and revelations from psychics.
Now, along with the development of technology, people can also read their future -- be it good or bad -- over the Internet or receive daily forecast over their cellular phones.
Paranormals, psychics, shamans, clairvoyants, mediums, spiritualists -- whatever you want to call them -- still play an important role in the lives of the so-called modern people.
Anthropologist Pinky Saptandari of Airlangga University in Surabaya said modern people visited psychics to solve the problems in their life, just like earlier generations.
"People always think that there is a cause for every problem they face. They may be rational, but when a crisis occurs they seek the help of mediums," she told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.
This same tendency occurs in almost every culture in the world. People, whether educated or not, just seem to need to visit psychics at certain times in their lives.
"People nowadays seek instant problem-solving. They want to accelerate the process, and psychics meet this demand because they see a business opportunity," Pinky said.
Sociologist Imam B. Prasodjo said the tendency to rely on psychics revealed modern people's inability to face problems in life rationally.
Humans cannot explain every phenomenon despite the amazing developments in technology and science, he said. So it is natural that people, even the educated and the religious, seek to solve problems by consulting psychics.
"It is natural, but it should not take place in the professional world, such as the state or in education affairs. Otherwise, it would carry a negative message for our country, which is currently struggling to become more democratic and modern," he said.
Indonesia has been struggling with an economic crisis since 1997, during which time the number of psychics offering their service has seen a noticeable increase.
"People choose to go to psychics rather than modern experts," Imam remarked.
Even some leaders of the country have proven themselves to be believers of the supernatural. Two weeks ago, Minister of Religious Affairs Said Agiel Al Munawar ordered a treasure hunt on the "suggestion of a wise man". The treasure, the minister said, could repay the country's billions of dollars of foreign debt.
"Spiritual counselors" are nothing new among the country's leaders. In 1997, a regent in Yogyakarta made headlines after he gave Rp 1 billion to a psychic in connection with his desire to prolong his term as regent.
Former president Abdurrahman Wahid, also a former leader of the Nahdatul Ulama Islamic group, has been known to associate with psychics even though he is known as an educated rationalist.
Imam said all of this was an "indication of the bankruptcy of the rational creativity needed to cope with crisis" and "the reflection of despair".
"The tendency to visit psychics is unfortunate, as it shows that people attempt to solve problems instantly. They forget that everything has a process," he said.