article
The Paliau movement in Manus and the objectification of tradition
History and anthropology • 5 (3-4) • Published In 1992 • Pages: 427-454
By: Otto, Ton.
Abstract
This is the story of the conversion of the Manus to Christianity. Otto describes how it was almost an overnight phenomenon after an initial 15-year period of slow if negligible success. He explains the reason for this sudden change to an accumulation of events that finally tipped the balance in favor of the new religion. He is interested in the possible motives for mass conversion which are not discussed by missionaries, who instead attributed it to a miracle. Otto explains the conversion in terms of the Manus strong motivation for cultural experimentation which predisposes them to adopt enthusiastically a creed once it is seen as effective. In a similar vein, Otto also discusses a later anti-colonial movement reacting against social inequalities.
- HRAF PubDate
- 2005
- Region
- Oceania
- Sub Region
- Melanesia
- Document Type
- article
- Evaluation
- Creator Type
- Ethnologist
- Document Rating
- 4: Excellent Secondary Data
- 5: Excellent Primary Data
- Analyst
- Ian Skoggard ; 2004
- Field Date
- 1986-1997
- Coverage Date
- 1885-1990
- Coverage Place
- Manus Province, Papua New Guinea
- Notes
- Ton Otto
- Includes bibliographical references (p. 453-454)
- LCCN
- 86646963
- LCSH
- Manus (Papua New Guinea people)