Thanksgiving: Dynamics of Interaction Studies in Inter-Religious Life in Amurang, South Minahasa Regency, North Sulawesi

Abstract

This study aims at elaborating the dynamic of interaction of inter-religious life in Amurang, North Sulawesi during thanksgiving. The People of North Sulawesi who called themselves “Manado People” consist of different ethnics and religions. Their daily life is based on respect for each other. One of the celebration that catch the interest of many Manado and Minahasa people is the thanksgiving celebration (<em>pengucapan</em>). The conclusion related to the focus of this research, are: First, The background of thanksgiving that became a habit of the Amurang, South Minahasa Regency people that lasted until today is based on imitation from what was done by their ancestors that was passed down generation after generation. Thanksgiving has been held since Minahasa People’s ancestors as a manifestation of faith in God in accordance to the people’s comprehension at that time. After Christianity comes, then the faith to God as the almighty shifted to Christian thought that is Jesus Christ. Thus, the meaning of thanksgivingstill the same which is giving gratitude for what God has bestowed, but the foundation itself has shifted. Blessing in the past was focused on crops. Nowadays, blessing is every good thing that was bestowed by God. Second, Thanksgiving ritual in Amurang, South Minahasa Regency, North Celebes Province, is the thanksgiving ritual that held by the Christian Community in Minahasa, but the guest to the meal reception can come from different ethnics and religions. The thanksgiving celebration has two different dimensions. The vertical dimension is the interaction between individuals with their God, in the form of Sunday prayer according to the schedule set, while the horizontal dimension is the interaction between local individuals and their guests who came to celebrate the thanksgiving that marked with meal reception. Third, The social meanings that contained in thanksgiving ritual in Amurang, South Minahasa Regency, North North Sulawesi Indonesia, is a symbol of social interaction between people from different ethnics and religions in friendly atmosphere that symbolize the slogan: “<em>torang samua basudara, baku-baku bae deng baku-baku sayang</em>”.