Fullness of Life in Mae Enga Traditional Religion and Christ the Life

• Authors: Miriam Maria Dlugosz

Title variants

PL

Pełnia życia w tradycyjnej religii Mae Enga i Chrystus-Życie

Abstracts

PL

Niniejsza prezentacja jest próbą stworzenia przestrzeni dialogu pomiędzy chrześcijaństwem a kulturą. Jezus Chrystus wkracza w dzisiejszą rzeczywistość społeczno-kulturową ludzi Mae Enga, aby ją przemienić, a także zaoferować nową tożsamość i nowy wymiar w ich poszukiwaniach pełni życia. Z kolei Mae Enga oferuje światu „Oblicze Chrystusa” z rysami i wartościami własnej kultury, kultu i pojednania. Artykuł bazuje na badaniach antropologów, jak również na wywiadach z 80 osobami: 60 osób wzięło udział w wywiadach osobistych, a 20 uczestniczyło w dyskusjach prowadzonych w grupach. Rezultaty badań pokazują, że tradycyjne życie ludzi Mae Enga ukierunkowane jest na życiodajne relacje z całym wszechświatem, które warunkują doświadczenie upragnionej “pełni życia” tu na ziemi, w kręgu członków własnego klanu. Pomimo nieuchronnych zmian społeczno-kulturowych, które wpływają na ich wartości, wierzenia i postawy, życie jest wciąż najwyższą wartością, ale dzisiejsza młodzież wybiera współczesne sposoby, by je osiągnąć. Religia tradycyjna ustępuje miejsca Chrystusowi, Panu Życia, który obala bariery pojedynczych klanów i daje im nową tożsamość naśladowców Chrystusa; Ktaisanya Tata (Tribe of Jesus Christ).

EN

The Mae Enga are friendly, hospitable, strong of character and different from the other groups of Papua New Guinea. Through a brief reflection on the traditional world-view centered life and on evaluation of their concept of life, the study forms a foundation for dialogue and inculturation. The material used in this article, beside the literature, is data collected during my research in 2020, via one-on-one interview (30 women and 30 men) and group discussions (10 women and 10 men) from two villages: Par and Yampu). A qualitative method was employed. The findings of the research show that the whole life of the Mae Enga is oriented towards reciprocal relationships with the entire universe to experience abundant life here on earth, within one’s own clan community. Despite the socio-cultural changes that influence their values, beliefs and attitudes, the “life” remains the central value but the ways of obtaining life have changed. The traditional religion is giving space to Jesus Christ the Life, who takes Mae Engans “beyond” their own clan and offers to them a new identity as followers of Christ, Ktaisanya Tata (Tribe of Jesus Christ). The presented reflection creates a space for dialogue between Christianity and culture. Jesus Christ enters the present Mae Enga socio-cultural reality in order to transform it, to offer a new identity and a new dimension in their search. In turn, the Mae Enga offer to the world the “Face of Christ” with its own cultural features and values, with its ways of worship and reconciliation.

Keywords

PL

życie; relacje; wymiana; pełnia życia; Chrystus Życie

EN

life; relationships; reciprocity; fullness of life; Christ the Life

• Publisher: Katolicki Uniwersytet Lubelski Jana Pawła II. Towarzystwo Naukowe KUL
• Journal: Roczniki Teologiczne
• Year: 2022
• Volume: 69
• Issue: 9
• Pages: 123-140

Dates

published

2022

Contributors

author

Miriam Maria Dlugosz

• Divine Word University, Papua New Guinea

References

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Identifiers

DOI

10.18290/rt22699.7

Biblioteka Nauki

31343179