Difference between revisions of "Template:Nhsc-v1-228"
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resurrection of Christ as demonstrable | resurrection of Christ as demonstrable | ||
by the written record of the gospel | by the written record of the gospel | ||
− | and effect their belief | + | and effect their belief strictly by |
− | + | faith. The Hawaiian Christian is | |
− | therefore more primarily | + | therefore more primarily affiliated |
with his church, and so far as his | with his church, and so far as his | ||
native Hawaiian beliefs are concerned, | native Hawaiian beliefs are concerned, | ||
Line 12: | Line 12: | ||
worship with no fear that they may be | worship with no fear that they may be | ||
violating either tradition. | violating either tradition. | ||
− | Animism and Animatism as Primary | + | |
− | Facets of Hawaiian Religious Belief | + | ==Animism and Animatism as Primary Facets of Hawaiian Religious Belief== |
− | Animism is the belief in | + | |
+ | Animism is the belief in spirits, | ||
and as we have demonstrated, Hawaiian | and as we have demonstrated, Hawaiian | ||
religion rests upon a basic belief in | religion rests upon a basic belief in | ||
− | "spirits and the | + | "spirits and the spirit world. These |
− | + | spirits (<u>‘uhane</u>) are also the gods | |
− | (akua) in the ranking hierarchy of | + | (<u>akua</u>) in the ranking hierarchy of |
− | guardian gods ( | + | guardian gods (<u>‘aumakua</u>) who protect |
the family from harm and who answer | the family from harm and who answer | ||
− | + | all kinds of trouble calls from their | |
family ('ohana) patrons. Thus a | family ('ohana) patrons. Thus a | ||
− | patron deity is an akua when called | + | patron deity is an <u>akua</u> when called |
upon by a group of workers, but when | upon by a group of workers, but when | ||
turned to by the family for help is | turned to by the family for help is | ||
− | called an | + | called an <u>‘aumakua</u>. Both the <u>akua</u> as |
− | "gods" and the | + | "gods" and the <u>‘aumakua</u> as "ancestral |
− | guardian gods" are | + | guardian gods" are <u>‘uhane</u> (spirits). |
− | + | ||
− | as ancestral | + | We can classify these spirit gods |
+ | as ancestral spirits (<u>‘aumakua</u>) | ||
ranging from the recent deified | ranging from the recent deified | ||
departed dead in the family, or the | departed dead in the family, or the | ||
− | ancestral | + | ancestral spirit gods (<u>akua</u>) who have |
never known mortal existence except in | never known mortal existence except in | ||
instances when they occupy human | instances when they occupy human | ||
− | bodies for | + | bodies for visits to earth and who are |
− | true | + | true spirits, or those who are |
god-like in that they have never | god-like in that they have never | ||
experienced human death. These | experienced human death. These | ||
− | immortal | + | immortal spirits are those, then, with |
the greatest supernatural power | the greatest supernatural power | ||
− | (mana), and as they are called upon | + | (<u>mana</u>), and as they are called upon |
− | through prayer and | + | through prayer and ritual, they impart |
− | their mana to human beings. | + | their <u>mana</u> to human beings. Men |
receive more of this power than women | receive more of this power than women | ||
do, and chiefs more than commoners. | do, and chiefs more than commoners. | ||
− | Mana is the "animating" force in | + | |
− | + | <u>Mana</u> is the "animating" force in | |
− | universal energy. Since the source | + | all life forms and in all forms of |
− | + | universal energy. Since the source of | |
+ | this power is from the spiritual to | ||
the material world, it follows that | the material world, it follows that | ||
the material world flows from the | the material world flows from the | ||
− | spiritual into concrete being, and | + | spiritual into concrete being, and ma |
− | + | is the conduit of its intelligent, | |
cognitive thought, whereby understanding | cognitive thought, whereby understanding | ||
− | or knowledge of | + | or knowledge of its existence |
− | perseveres through corporeal | + | perseveres through corporeal life and |
− | back again into spiritual | + | back again into spiritual life. Thus |
− | Hawaiian religion evinces a | + | Hawaiian religion evinces a dependency |
between belief in spiritual entity | between belief in spiritual entity | ||
− | ( | + | (<u>‘uhane</u>) residing in man and ancestral |
− | gods ('akua, | + | gods (<u>'akua</u>, <u>‘aumakua</u>), in man as |
− | + | living god (<u>kupua</u> or "demigod"), and | |
belief in the psycho-dynamic force of | belief in the psycho-dynamic force of | ||
life-energy and power existing in a | life-energy and power existing in a | ||
direct flow to all of creation; that | direct flow to all of creation; that | ||
− | + | is, <u>animism</u> and <u>animatism</u>; man's life | |
− | and | + | and all life in the creation being |
but a manifestation of the animating | but a manifestation of the animating | ||
force of spiritual energy and power. | force of spiritual energy and power. | ||
− | Inasmuch as nature | + | |
+ | Inasmuch as nature is, however, | ||
both animate and inanimate, it can be | both animate and inanimate, it can be | ||
− | asked how inanimate nature | + | asked how inanimate nature demonstrates, in its dormancy, spiritual |
− | |||
energy, and how Hawaiian belief in | energy, and how Hawaiian belief in | ||
− | mana as residual, in all of | + | <u>mana</u> as residual, in all of |
creation's forms, handles the | creation's forms, handles the | ||
resolution between animation and inanimation? | resolution between animation and inanimation? | ||
It is simple. "Life," in | It is simple. "Life," in | ||
Hawaiian thought, is not restricted to | Hawaiian thought, is not restricted to | ||
− | animated, corporeal | + | animated, corporeal life (<u>ola</u>), |
because "life" as emerging invigoration | because "life" as emerging invigoration | ||
− | is | + | is spirit (<u>ea</u>) in both inanimate |
− | and animate forms. | + | and animate forms. <u>mana</u> is either |
dormant and residual in the inanimate | dormant and residual in the inanimate | ||
− | forms of | + | forms of life or energy (if we see |
− | mana as "potential" energy) and also | + | <u>mana</u> as "potential" energy) and also |
dynamic and active in the animate | dynamic and active in the animate | ||
− | forms of | + | forms of life (or "kinetic" energy). |
− | Light is not living (ola), but it is a | + | Light is not living (<u>ola</u>), but it is a |
− | manifestation of the great akua god | + | manifestation of the great <u>akua</u> god |
− | Kane-ka-'onohi-o-ka-la (Kane-eyeballof- | + | <u>Kane-ka-'onohi-o-ka-la</u> (<u>Kane</u>-eyeballof- |
the-sun). So light is masculine, | the-sun). So light is masculine, | ||
− | and an expression of mana as it | + | and an expression of <u>mana</u> as it |
− | emanates from the sunlight to man | + | emanates from the sunlight to man on |
− | earth for his use. Light as | + | earth for his use. Light as the inner |
− | 228 | + | {{p|228}} |
Latest revision as of 03:51, 15 April 2006
resurrection of Christ as demonstrable by the written record of the gospel and effect their belief strictly by faith. The Hawaiian Christian is therefore more primarily affiliated with his church, and so far as his native Hawaiian beliefs are concerned, simply keeps them separate as it suits him, or as in other cases, will work them into home rituals combining Christian and Hawaiian forms of worship with no fear that they may be violating either tradition.
Animism and Animatism as Primary Facets of Hawaiian Religious Belief
Animism is the belief in spirits, and as we have demonstrated, Hawaiian religion rests upon a basic belief in "spirits and the spirit world. These spirits (‘uhane) are also the gods (akua) in the ranking hierarchy of guardian gods (‘aumakua) who protect the family from harm and who answer all kinds of trouble calls from their family ('ohana) patrons. Thus a patron deity is an akua when called upon by a group of workers, but when turned to by the family for help is called an ‘aumakua. Both the akua as "gods" and the ‘aumakua as "ancestral guardian gods" are ‘uhane (spirits).
We can classify these spirit gods as ancestral spirits (‘aumakua) ranging from the recent deified departed dead in the family, or the ancestral spirit gods (akua) who have never known mortal existence except in instances when they occupy human bodies for visits to earth and who are true spirits, or those who are god-like in that they have never experienced human death. These immortal spirits are those, then, with the greatest supernatural power (mana), and as they are called upon through prayer and ritual, they impart their mana to human beings. Men receive more of this power than women do, and chiefs more than commoners.
Mana is the "animating" force in all life forms and in all forms of universal energy. Since the source of this power is from the spiritual to the material world, it follows that the material world flows from the spiritual into concrete being, and ma is the conduit of its intelligent, cognitive thought, whereby understanding or knowledge of its existence perseveres through corporeal life and back again into spiritual life. Thus Hawaiian religion evinces a dependency between belief in spiritual entity (‘uhane) residing in man and ancestral gods ('akua, ‘aumakua), in man as living god (kupua or "demigod"), and belief in the psycho-dynamic force of life-energy and power existing in a direct flow to all of creation; that is, animism and animatism; man's life and all life in the creation being but a manifestation of the animating force of spiritual energy and power.
Inasmuch as nature is, however, both animate and inanimate, it can be asked how inanimate nature demonstrates, in its dormancy, spiritual energy, and how Hawaiian belief in mana as residual, in all of creation's forms, handles the resolution between animation and inanimation? It is simple. "Life," in Hawaiian thought, is not restricted to animated, corporeal life (ola), because "life" as emerging invigoration is spirit (ea) in both inanimate and animate forms. mana is either dormant and residual in the inanimate forms of life or energy (if we see mana as "potential" energy) and also dynamic and active in the animate forms of life (or "kinetic" energy). Light is not living (ola), but it is a manifestation of the great akua god Kane-ka-'onohi-o-ka-la (Kane-eyeballof- the-sun). So light is masculine, and an expression of mana as it emanates from the sunlight to man on earth for his use. Light as the inner
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