Cosmological Influences in the Practices of Divine Healing

C. Robahi

The purpose of this study was to compare the cosmological conception evidenced in practices of divine healing. The two groups were Pentecostal pastors and Moslem shamans. The location was the city of Surabaya in East Java, Indonesia.

The method was qualitative. The researcher interviewed the subjects and observed their practices. Ten Pentecostal pastors and six shamans consented to participate in this way.

Obervations

Both groups actively advertised their services. Pentecostals advertised Healing services while the shamans preferred to use banners in prominent locations. Their work practices were not dissimilar to ordinary medical practitioners in that they used their time taking patients in fifteen-minute appointments.

Members of both groups considered themselves agents of healing through divine power.

The pastors acted as mediators, praying for the healing of the sick person and sometimes using instruments as mediums. Handkerchiefs were imbued with healing powers for persons not physically present. Pastors taught that sufferers would most certainly be healed based on their faith, and that faith was a condition of healing. Personal sin was considered a barrier to healing, and resolving it would produce healing.

The shamans also acted as mediators. They used mantras, which were commands given by the shaman with special terms in either the Javanese or Madurese languages, and mediums such as drinking water, and fetishes.

Interpretation

It was concluded that the cosmological conceptions of both groups were difficult to differentiate in any way, although they differed greatly in symbols, choice of language, and terminology.

This brought up the question, If their underlying cosmologies were not different, what then is the difference between Christianity and the 'Christian witchdoctor'? Animism and Christianity have significant similarities. For example, both believe that:

• the world is controlled by spiritual forces
• humans have access to spiritual power
• spiritual forces can be used for healing
• certain people can channel these powers.

The gospels talk often about demon possession and the role of faith in healing sicknesses, the book of Acts mentions the use of mediums, and I Corintians mentions the role of certain gifts, including healing. This is even more more the case when large denominations have grown up, developed their own theology with little input from rationalistic versions of western Christianity, and most church members probably have animistic backgrounds. These versions of Christianity have more in common with animism than with secular Western rationalism. In all Pentecostal cases, the most questionable feature was the belief that the sickness was a direct result of personal sin.