When my eyes first fell upon this concept during the book I felt irritated and bewildered. Irritated because I have always disliked the idea of betrayal, as I find it to be a way of not only shattering a relationship but also to brand yourself with the trademark of distrust. Bewildered because I could not understand why not carry on with a relationship that could bring much good to both tribes instead of wasting all efforts away with treachery? And yet, it was this when I realized that people continue to do this nowadays through schmoozing and false praise. Men and women often seek to gain things from others by feeding them compliments, which will eventually intoxicate people to the extent that they can't see past the lies that they have been told. What is the difference? Besides cannibalism, there is not a significant difference between these two; both still involve flattering a person through false adulation/friendship in order to gain something in return. The betrayal lies not in the killing, but in the dishonesty of it all.
Contrasting to this gruesome concept lies the peace child; a tradition which I believe is by far the most obvious redemptive analogy I have ever come across. It seems very ironic that a culture that places those who commit treachery in the highest pedestal of the social ladder could create a concept that perfectly embodies the sacrifice of Jesus. This made me realize that though the Sawi men valued treachery, the peace child concept contrasted it so much that it almost made their whole culture seem hypocritical! And that is what I found to be the most beautiful part of this book. That despite the hardships that are presented at first glance (some that would surely convince me of not going), a man was willing to reveal the message that the Sawi had already known for aeons before, yet could not fathom the true meaning behind it.
Every beauty which is seen here by persons of perception resembles more than anything else that celestial source from which we all are come. - Michelangelo
Hey Carlos, I enjoyed reading about what you found interesting about the Sawi culture. :)
ReplyDeleteLike you, I was so repelled by the way the Sawi enjoyed treachery and sin, but, then again, I was also ashamed that we seem to be just as impure and wicked as them. I think that you also answered the question "How different is your modern culture from the Sawi tenants?" in this response, nice job. We and the Sawi are so alike when we are stripped from all our superficial masks; we are both greedy and we both benefit from our dishonesty.
I feel the same about your second point. I discovered this point late into my blogging assignment (while I was commenting on one of my other friend's blog); however, I am glad that you were able to unravel this point at an early stage and on your own.
But, just to add on, here are some of my thoughts:
Don't you find it a remarkable coincidence how the Sawi had been using the same peace system as God even before they were introduced to Christianity? Could God have been working in their lives, already; its just that the Sawi didn't notice?