PENGARUH AGAMA KATOLIK DALAM POLA RELASI DUAN-LOLAT PADA MASYARAKAT TANIMBAR UTARA

Abstract

The North Tanimbar community in the Maluku Islands has a tradition of a relationship pattern known as Duan-Lolat (Giver-Receiver). This Duan-Lolat relationship pattern originates from the context of marriage, namely the relationship between man (husband) and woman (wife), which at the same time also implies the relationship between nature and humans (cosmological) as well as the master (the king) with his servants (political). This research, using a qualitative approach with interviews and literature studies, aims to examine the influence of Catholicism in the Duan-Lolat relationship pattern. The results show that before the Catholic faith entered, the people of North Tanimbar embraced animist beliefs centered on human relationships with the universe and ancestral spirits, referred to as Makenar and Batmakenar. After the Catholicism entered in their society, the community’s belief system underwent to change. In this religious context, Duan, as the Giver, which in the original beliefs was identified with men, nature and kings, is now applied to God or Ubila’a, in their language. Meanwhile, Lolat, as the receiver, which was originally identified with women, humans, and servants, is applied to humans in their relationship with God. With this new understanding and meaning, Catholicism can be easily accepted by the North Tanimbar community, while strengthening the community’s understanding of the relationship between humans and God, as well as forming the basis for religious practice and the community.