Paganism, Animism Or Polytheism: An Investigation Into The Labelling And Categorisation Of Traditional Belief System Of The Kadazandusun


 

THE SARAWAK MUSEUM JOURNAL
VOL LXXI NO.92 DECEMBER 2013
 
 
Title : 
Paganism, Animism Or Polytheism: An Investigation Into The Labelling And Categorisation Of Traditional Belief System Of The Kadazandusun
Author : 
Low Kok On and Sanen Marshall
Abstract:
The article surveys the difficulties associated with the attempts to describe the Kadazandusun belief system, which includes attempts to label it as pagan, animistorpolytheist. The characteristics of the traditional Kadazan dusun belief system are compared against these three concepts and the authors observe that both animistic and polytheistic elements are present.The authors highlight the fact that the Kadazan dusun once believed in a hierarchy of deities. They show the similarities between Kadazandusun polytheism and the polytheistic forms of belief found in well-known civilisations such as Greece and China. Besides, the authors argue that the Kadazan dusun are not pagan but they did possess their own belief system before the majority of them embraced the Christian and the Muslim faiths.By approaching the subject in this manner,it is hoped that a more accurate understanding of the traditional belief system of the Kadazan dusun people can subsequently be obtained. More importantly, this article establishes beyond doubt that the traditional Kadazandusun do in fact possess a system of belief, one that is a folk religion in its own right.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61507/smj22-2013-AV18-01
How to cite:
Low Kok On and Sanen Marshall. (2013). Paganism, Animism or Polytheism: An Investigation Into The Labelling and Categorisation of Traditional1 Belief System of The Kadazandusun. The Sarawak Museum Journal, LXXI (92) : 1-40
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