RELIGIOUS CONVERSION FROM HINDUS TO CHRISTIANS AT PAKUSEBA, TARO VILLAGE, TEGALLALANG DISTSRICT GIANYAR REGENCY

Sari

This study discusses the phenomenon of religious conversion from Hindus to Christians
taking place at Pakuseba, Taro Village, Tegallalang District, Gianyar Regency. This phenomenon
is interesting enough to be analyzed as its takes place in every part of Indonesia. In addition,
religious conversion is also an issue which is sensitive enough to conflicts. Apart from being
sensitive, religious conversion is also contextual and is covered with various related disciplines.
The complexity of the matters pertaining to religious conversion shows that this phenomenon is
relevant to be analyzed from the perspective of cultural studies; that is, from critical cultural
studies formulated in the format of cultural studies which aims at establishing justice,
togetherness, and eliminating domination. The problems in the present study are classified into
three; they are (1) how the religious conversion took place at Pakuseba; (2) what factors
contributing to the religious conversion taking place at Pakuseba; and (3) what were the impact
and meaning of the religious conversion taking place at Pakuseba? The results of analysis showed
that (1) the religious conversion from Hindus to Christians taking place at Pakuseba started
from the discourse which influenced the perspective converts, then they were dominated and
finally they were ritually baptized. (2) There were three factors causing religious conversion
from Hindus to Christians to take place at Pakuseba; they are (a) missionaries, (b) I Jelih, (3)
economic assistance in the forms of nine primary needs, and education through orphanage. (3)
The impacts of religious conversion on the Pakuseba community were (a) the local people were
socially polarized into two different religious communities; such a difference led to conflicts
which then came to an end with togetherness under the umbrella of Lembaga Musyawarah
Banjar Pakuseba. In the family level, how to divide inheritance was a problem. (b) Psychologically,
the two religious communities worried; as a result, the Christian community intensified their
religious services and the Hindu community increased their ritual ceremonies ‘panca yadnya’,
which then led to a ritual ceremony which was performed for environment; it was performed on
the Day of Environment. (c) The spiritual impact was that the local people became encouraged
to go to school. Apart from the meaning of tolerance, the religious conversion taking place at
Pakuseba also had religious and spiritual meanings. This was indicated by the increase in spiritual
enthusiasm.
Keywords: Religious Conversion, Critical Study