Animism
In his address when he was sworn in as Prime Minister in July 2006, José Ramos-Horta stated:
“Timorese people are deeply spiritual. Their lives are inspired and influenced by the spirits of the past and supernatural beliefs fused with Christian beliefs. We must not impose modern secularism or Europeanism to disturb the symbiotic relationship of Timorese animist and Christian beliefs.”
This symbiosis is shown in the traditional animist practices and beliefs which are still strong in Timor.
Prominent among these is ancestor worship, devotion to the souls of the dead. Matebian, second highest peak in Timor, is the Mountain of the Souls of the Dead.
Animistic beliefs in Timor include the concept of lulik, an all-pervadingand powerful force, not easily classified by those outside the culture, and one which operates in the lives of many Timorese people even today. Any place, person or object with sacred qualities is called lulik. When something goes wrong in their lives, the people may go to these places to make an offering or to pray for forgiveness. Certain trees e.g. the banyan, would be considered lulik, as well as water, rivers, cascades, mountains and rocks where the souls of ancestors were believed to reside.
Lulik can be a protector or a threat, to be both placated and sought after. Traditional customs called adat are the means by which proper recognition is given the lulik power, e.g. someone may intercede with the souls of the ancestors by visiting certain stones or trees, or performing actions or chants, or visiting an uma lulik, a sacred house.
“Belief in sacred stones, sacred trees, sacred lakes or parts of the land runs deep in my memory…..My image of God was a mixture of my animist beliefs from my mum and grandmother, Buddhism traditions from my grandfather and Catholic customs from my father.”
Nancy de Almeida Ezequiel
