Religious Conversion in Indonesia: The Karo Batak and the Tengger Javanese

Abstract

This article discusses religious conversions among two ethnic groups in Indonesia, the Karo Batak of North Sumatra and the Tengger Javanese of East Java, with reference to the description of conversions in Rita Kipp Smith's studies of the Karo Batak and Robert W. Hefner's studies of the Tengger Javanese. In his comparative analysis, the author finds some important similarities: (1) both ethnic groups have experienced conversions to three religions, Christianity, Islam and Hinduism; (2) both ethnic groups have struggled for reconciliation between their own tradition and the new religions to which they convert; and (3) the political circumstances in the area in particular, and in Indonesia in general, have a significant impact on religious conversions of both ethnic groups. The author also finds interesting differences: (1) most of the Karo Batak have become Christian converts while the majority of the Tengger Javanese have converted to Islam; and (2) Tengger Javanese are not interested in affiliating with a type of spiritualism called Aliran Kebatinan/Kepercayaan, unlike some of the Karo Batak. In addition, in the light of various theories of conversion, the author argues that no single theory of conversion can explain all phenomena of religious conversion and yet one theory may support and/or negate another. In other words, some particular situations of the Karo Batak and Tengger Javanese show that the theories of conversion can be modified and/or rejected.