Religious History

     The religious history of Indonesia still reveals itself moment by moment through music and the arts; to understand it even slightly provides a window to the myriad forces that have shaped the country.

     The land we now know as Indonesia was originally pervaded by hundreds (if not thousands) of different animistic belief systems. What these systems share is the belief that the world and it’s inhabitants (from plants to people) are all guided in some way by invisible spiritual forces. Then around 0C.E, a momentous introduction occurred. Early Indian traders brought with them Hinduism and Buddhism, new pantheons of gods , new symbols and mythologies, and all the rich creativity surrounding them. These new religions offered the region a fresh, and fairly unified, wellspring of ideas that wove deeply into every aspect of life. It is at this point in time that we see one of Indonesias most signature and enduring qualities, that of adaptation over stagnation; incorporation over rejection; syncretism over seperation.

     After flourishing for a thousand years (2nd-12th centuries) the region began to interact with seafaring merchants bringing Sufi Islam, a mystical branch promoting “spiritual union” with divinity through religious practices, many of which relied on music. Sufism complimented many ideas and practices already in place as well as introducing the basic tenets of Islam. This laid the idealogical groundwork for a more orthodox Islam that gradually disseminated across the nation. In the 14th century the lands rich natural resources and ideal trading route drew attention from Europe. This attention lead to a tenuous dutch colonialization starting in 1596 and lasting for 350 years. After multiple insurgencies and then independence (in 1945), Indonesia still struggled with heavy handed leaders, rebellions and communism to find itself worn by history, yet all the wiser in many ways. The creative culture of Indonesia has reflected it all in a variety of ways.