Post by Lady Anastasia on Mar 9, 2007 23:22:17 GMT -5
Religious beliefs are arguably the most important aspect in defining various cultures around the world. For the Maori people of New Zealand, this is no different since they base their lives around various religious beliefs. Before the 19th Century the Maori people believed only in their native Maori religion. However, after European Imperialism and settlement, the Maori people began to adopt western religions as a result of the work of European missionaries. Today the primary religions followed by the Maori are still the native Maori religion, but Christian beliefs are very prevalent. The Maori people have an eclectic make-up of the Christian religion with 32% of their population following the Anglican Church, 16% of the population following the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church and 7% follow a combination of Methodist and Mormon faith. These numbers have grown over the past 50 years. There has been a slow but steady trend in abandonment the native Maori religion for a Christian counterpart. Although the Maori religion is still a strong faith for the Maori people the religion itself has adopted many Christian beliefs to become much different than what it was before the 1800’s.
Before the 1800’s the Native Maori people believed in the Maori religion and mauri, the life force. It was believed by the people that all living things were connected by a common descent through genealogy. All people and living beings contained mauri and thus needed to live in harmony together. The Maori religion also believed in another force called mana, a spiritual power. Mana comprised only the most powerful and prevelant forces and objects of nature. The Maori religion placed a strong spritual bond on all things that had an impact on their lives in nature, much like the Native American beliefs.
In the traditional Maori religion there was no recognized national system of worship. The people followed traditions to acheive direction and serenity. The traditional Maori religion was made up of supernatural powers, spiritual concepts and beliefs in future life, and tohunga. The Maori religion differed from the imported religions of Westerners, in that they placed much more emphasis on religion in dictating their livelihood like people of more civilized cultures (Europeans). The Maori people brought the belief of the Supreme Being to there religion in every day activities. This is either by ritual, ceremony, or for protection. Without the protection man could not retain life. The spiritual welfare would depart and evil power would destroy him. These beliefs and prayers were used to consult the gods at birth, marriage, sickness, death, burial, for agricultural, war and social issues. These beliefs are very similar to many traditional tribal beliefs in that they place such a strong bond between nature and the people.
Traditionally, the Maori people were polytheistic in that they worshipped multiple gods. The Maori people believed in a supreme god above all others. Io had control over all other gods and all things earthly. Tangaroa may have been the second most important god. He was the god of the ocean and the supplier and bearer of fish, a key food source. Tane was another god that was highly worshipped. Tane was the god of the forest and the origin of birds. Another god was Rongo, the god of agriculture and peace. These gods were very similar to the other gods of the Polynesian people and most likely the Maori religion stemmed from the teachings of traditional Polynesian religion as a result of trade between islands.
During the early 1800’s Westerners began to frequent the island and incorporate their own beliefs and technologies into the Maori religion through missions. In the 1830’s, Great Britian claimed control of New Zealand and the surrounding Cook Islands through their Imperialistic control of the South Pacific. This led to a series of events that unraveled the traditional Maori religion and brought about Christian beliefs to the people.
These can be explained as movements of the Maori religion. The first movement was Hauhauism, in which the Maori people created cults which provided an outlet for repressed fears and tensions. This movment combined the elements of Biblical teachings of the Christians, along with the Maori's own traditions. This movement was a useful tactict to bring people togther against there common ememy. It also helped to aid the development of an efficient militiary force. More over, Hauhauism was a influential successor towards to the second meovement, the Ringatu religion. Unlike the Hauhauism approach which was a more fananitcal worship, Ringatu worship focused on the chants and hymns and the reliance of memory, which the tohunga expressed. The tohunga were the priestly experts whose speciality was church law. The last movement was Ratana faith which was influenced by Tahupotiki Wiremu, known as the faith healer. Ratana gave the Maori people more than mere hope of physical well-being after the war was over. Ratana provided leadership and moral stimulus for the Maori people to express their frustrations. In addition, this movement was important because Ratana built a temple involving apostles which led to an increaase of Maori people to come from all areas of New Zealand. Another key aspect to the Ratana movement is that it identifies itself with Labour Party politics and controlled the four Maori seats in Parliament. This is still a significant influence on politics. Each of these movements was brought about to attain better social standing, living conditions and relieve economic stress of the native Maori people.
During the 1960’s, the Maori people began a revival of the traditional Maori religiont. Today the Maori religion is an eclectic mix of both the Maori and Christian beliefs and provides the Maori people with the needed morals and values to conduct a productive society.
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Bibliography
Maori – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maori. 25 March 2005.
The Maori - New Zealand in History. history-nz.org/maori.html 25 March 2005.
The Religous Ideas of the Maori. www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/tei-BesMaor-c4.html 25 March 2005.
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www.personal.psu.edu/kxg215/maori_religion.html
Before the 1800’s the Native Maori people believed in the Maori religion and mauri, the life force. It was believed by the people that all living things were connected by a common descent through genealogy. All people and living beings contained mauri and thus needed to live in harmony together. The Maori religion also believed in another force called mana, a spiritual power. Mana comprised only the most powerful and prevelant forces and objects of nature. The Maori religion placed a strong spritual bond on all things that had an impact on their lives in nature, much like the Native American beliefs.
In the traditional Maori religion there was no recognized national system of worship. The people followed traditions to acheive direction and serenity. The traditional Maori religion was made up of supernatural powers, spiritual concepts and beliefs in future life, and tohunga. The Maori religion differed from the imported religions of Westerners, in that they placed much more emphasis on religion in dictating their livelihood like people of more civilized cultures (Europeans). The Maori people brought the belief of the Supreme Being to there religion in every day activities. This is either by ritual, ceremony, or for protection. Without the protection man could not retain life. The spiritual welfare would depart and evil power would destroy him. These beliefs and prayers were used to consult the gods at birth, marriage, sickness, death, burial, for agricultural, war and social issues. These beliefs are very similar to many traditional tribal beliefs in that they place such a strong bond between nature and the people.
Traditionally, the Maori people were polytheistic in that they worshipped multiple gods. The Maori people believed in a supreme god above all others. Io had control over all other gods and all things earthly. Tangaroa may have been the second most important god. He was the god of the ocean and the supplier and bearer of fish, a key food source. Tane was another god that was highly worshipped. Tane was the god of the forest and the origin of birds. Another god was Rongo, the god of agriculture and peace. These gods were very similar to the other gods of the Polynesian people and most likely the Maori religion stemmed from the teachings of traditional Polynesian religion as a result of trade between islands.
During the early 1800’s Westerners began to frequent the island and incorporate their own beliefs and technologies into the Maori religion through missions. In the 1830’s, Great Britian claimed control of New Zealand and the surrounding Cook Islands through their Imperialistic control of the South Pacific. This led to a series of events that unraveled the traditional Maori religion and brought about Christian beliefs to the people.
These can be explained as movements of the Maori religion. The first movement was Hauhauism, in which the Maori people created cults which provided an outlet for repressed fears and tensions. This movment combined the elements of Biblical teachings of the Christians, along with the Maori's own traditions. This movement was a useful tactict to bring people togther against there common ememy. It also helped to aid the development of an efficient militiary force. More over, Hauhauism was a influential successor towards to the second meovement, the Ringatu religion. Unlike the Hauhauism approach which was a more fananitcal worship, Ringatu worship focused on the chants and hymns and the reliance of memory, which the tohunga expressed. The tohunga were the priestly experts whose speciality was church law. The last movement was Ratana faith which was influenced by Tahupotiki Wiremu, known as the faith healer. Ratana gave the Maori people more than mere hope of physical well-being after the war was over. Ratana provided leadership and moral stimulus for the Maori people to express their frustrations. In addition, this movement was important because Ratana built a temple involving apostles which led to an increaase of Maori people to come from all areas of New Zealand. Another key aspect to the Ratana movement is that it identifies itself with Labour Party politics and controlled the four Maori seats in Parliament. This is still a significant influence on politics. Each of these movements was brought about to attain better social standing, living conditions and relieve economic stress of the native Maori people.
During the 1960’s, the Maori people began a revival of the traditional Maori religiont. Today the Maori religion is an eclectic mix of both the Maori and Christian beliefs and provides the Maori people with the needed morals and values to conduct a productive society.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bibliography
Maori – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maori. 25 March 2005.
The Maori - New Zealand in History. history-nz.org/maori.html 25 March 2005.
The Religous Ideas of the Maori. www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/tei-BesMaor-c4.html 25 March 2005.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
www.personal.psu.edu/kxg215/maori_religion.html