essay

The ecological and social consequences of conversation to Christianity among the Rungus Dusun of Sabah, Malaysia

sociocultural change, development and indigenous peoples (11) • Published In 1997 • Pages: 61-99

By: Appell, George N..

Abstract
In this article G.N. Appell examines the influence of Christianity on Rungus ecology. Have Christian notions about man's domain over nature affected how the Rungus treat their environment? Appell argues that Christianity has had an indirect effect by undermining the supernatural sanctions and ritual activity that supported ecological conservation. Christianity has given the Rungus a new worldview to cope with the changes wrought by modernization. It also protects the Rungus from the retribution of malevolent spirits, the ROGON. For example, the ROGON would bring sickness to anyone who cut trees in a sacred grove. Rungus Christians now cut down the sacred groves--some, hundreds of acres in extent--with impunity. The result has been a drying of the Rungus environment and loss of game animals. Also the Rungus now sell their domestic animals, which were sacrificed to the ROGON in the past and were an important source of protein. The ROGON were also a sanction against the violation of sexual taboos. Today illicit sexual relations have increased and with it venereal disease.
Subjects
Theoretical orientation in research and its results
Topography and geology
Flora
Tillage
Water supply
Environmental quality
Religious offenses
Spirits and gods
Religious denominations
culture
Rungus Dusun
HRAF PubDate
2002
Region
Asia
Sub Region
Southeast Asia
Document Type
essay
Evaluation
Creator Type
Ethnologist
Document Rating
4: Excellent Secondary Data
5: Excellent Primary Data
Analyst
Ian Skoggard ; 2000
Field Date
1959-1963, 1986-1992
Coverage Date
1959-1994
Coverage Place
Kudat District, Sabah, Malaysia
Notes
G. N. Appell
Includes bibliographical references (p. 94-99)
LCCN
82941773
LCSH
Dusun (Bornean people)