Book

Rank and religion in Tikopia: a study in paganism and conversion to Christianity

Beacon Press • Boston, Mass. • Published In 1970 • Pages:

By: Firth, Raymond.

Abstract

Firth describes the process of transition from the Tikopians' aboriginal religion to Christianity during the period ca. 1925-1955. The effect and processes of this transition on the whole socio-cultural system are analyzed in detail. According to this analysis, the transition took place relatively smoothly, with a change in political power and rank relationships and a relatively complete replacement of the old religious system.

Subjects

Missions

culture

Tikopia

HRAF PubDate

1995

Region

Oceania

Sub Region

Polynesia

Document Type

Book

Evaluation

Creator Type

Ethnologist

Document Rating

5: Excellent Primary Data

Analyst

Sigrid Khera ; Dubravka Schmalzbauer

Field Date

1928-1929, 1952, 1966

Coverage Date

ca. 1925-1955

Coverage Place

Tikopia Island, Solomon Islands

Notes

[by] Raymond Firth

Information on propitiation involved in kava ritual has been indexed for categories 276 and 796; Information on community chiefs identical with chiefs of kin groups has been filed in categories 613 and 614; For additional information on personalities of chiefs, see categories 613, 614, and 793; For incorporeal property involved in the possession of kava, see category 613, 614, 793; Information on ritual elders has been filed in category 793; For theoretical discussion and structural-functional analysis of the impact of conversion to Christianity on the socio-cultural system, see pp. 13-44, 61-77, 162-214, 297-321, and 407-418; For data on acculturation and culture contacts associated with conversion to Christianity, see pp. 41-54,119, 160, 172-234, 250, 269, and 288-418; For changes in fundamental underlying conditions and general sociocultural trends, see pp. 41-45, 61, 84, 91-124, 147-179, 194-204, 220, 229, 242-276, and 288-418

Includes index

LCCN

71112710

LCSH

Tikopia (Solomon Islands people)