International Peace Institute

This article provides a thorough examination of indigenous theology in Indonesia by focusing on the following six belief systems: Kejawen, Sunda Wiwitan, Kaharingan, Marapu, Ada’ Mappurondo, and Parmalim. The study considers their concepts of god, the cosmos, rituals, ethics, and the interplay of their religion with hegemonic faiths and state politics. Guided by a postcolonial lens and indigenous theory, this article illustrates the complexity of Indonesian identity involving religion and highlights the contradiction of how syncretic and multi-dimensional it defies the rigid frameworks ascribed to religion. Such an examination also shows how the state engages with these beliefs is often more of a calculated scheme than genuine goodwill. Following the 2017 Constitutional Court ruling, there was a significant increase in legal recognition, but there is still a lack of social acceptance, discrimination, and other legal social challenges. This study advocates for a more inclusive and decolonial lens when examining the Archipelago’s asserted spiritual scarcity, as well as the role of indigenous theology in fostering social and ecological harmony.

This study explores the enduring symbolic and cultural roles of precious stones in Biringala Village, South Sulawesi, Indonesia, where stones such as jade and agate function as ritual tools, social markers, and spiritual artifacts. Rooted in a broader anthropological inquiry into material culture and cultural resilience, the research investigates how these traditions persist, transform, or decline under the pressures of modernization and commodification. Drawing on a symbolic ethnographic approach, the study utilizes qualitative methods including semi-structured interviews, participatory observation, and documentation involving ritual leaders, elders, and community members. Thematic analysis reveals that while sacred stones continue to play a vital role in rituals such as Panrita, Assuro Maca, and Appassili, their meanings are increasingly contested among younger generations who perceive them more as aesthetic objects or commercial goods. The study also identifies strategies of cultural resilience through intergenerational knowledge transfer, local education initiatives, and cautious engagement with cultural tourism. Findings underscore how material symbols maintain their relevance not solely through static preservation but through adaptive practices negotiated within changing socio-cultural ecologies. The research concludes that despite the commodification and gradual desacralization of these stones, local actors in Biringala actively reshape their significance, suggesting a dynamic rather than static understanding of heritage. This study contributes to the anthropology of ritual and identity by illustrating how tangible cultural objects mediate between ancestral values and contemporary challenges, and highlights the importance of local agency in sustaining intangible cultural traditions through material expression.

ABSTRACTReflecting upon international peace studies at the start of 2025, this piece looks both at the contexts of the 2023 IPRA global conference held in Trinidad and at the 2024 US elections. With a tribute to and extensive quote from Grenadian academic Don Rojas, we articulate the ways in which past “peaceful revolutions” such as the New Jewel Movement may provide guideposts for peace work in the years ahead.