Nuaulu Religious Practices; The frequency and reproduction of rituals in a Moluccan society

Book Description

This scholarly exploration offers a unique window into the spiritual practices of the Nuaulu people, an animist society living on the Indonesian island of Seram. Through three decades of careful observation and documentation, anthropologist Roy Ellen presents a detailed examination of how religious rituals are maintained, transmitted, and adapted across generations.

The study focuses on the practical aspects of spiritual life, analyzing how different types of ceremonies occur with varying frequencies and patterns throughout the Nuaulu calendar. Rather than simply describing what these rituals mean, Ellen investigates how they actually function in daily life, how they change in response to social and material circumstances, and what factors influence their continuation or transformation.

For readers interested in understanding how spiritual traditions survive and evolve, this work provides valuable insights into the mechanics of religious transmission. The research reveals how individual ceremonies connect to form larger cycles of practice, and examines whether ritual accuracy depends on shared underlying principles or specific traditional elements.

The Nuaulu occupy a particularly interesting position, maintaining their animist beliefs while surrounded by Christian and Muslim communities in a region marked by religious tension. Their story illuminates how indigenous spiritual practices persist in complex multicultural environments.

This comprehensive study offers anthropologists, religious studies scholars, and anyone curious about the dynamics of spiritual community life a thorough examination of how ancient practices adapt to modern realities.