9 United in Culture – Separate Ways in Religion?

Abstract

The topic of the harmony and peacefulness among Balinese people has become an integral aspect of the discourses about Bali which has been adapted by the Hindu Balinese as well. Such a discourse leaves out the Hindu Balinese’ relationships to various minorities, such as the Christian communities. The relationship between Hindu and Christian Balinese has never been “harmonious,” though recently the tensions between them have decreased. In contrast to other religious minorities, the Christian Balinese are predominantly people who converted fairly recently from Hinduism to Christianity. Thus, they share the same genealogical and cultural roots as their Hindu neighbours, but different religious affiliations have divided communities and even families. Christian Balinese are excluded from the rights and benefits their Hindu neighbours enjoy as full members of the desa pakraman (village). Nevertheless, the Christian minority has now apparently decided to live in “harmony” with their dominant counterparts – by complying with their rules.