Original Research

From social shame to spiritual shame: On the rite of confession of guilt and sin in Toraja

Frans P. Rumbi, Ivan T.J. Weismann, Daniel Ronda, Robi Panggarra, Yosua F. Camerling
HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies | Vol 78, No 1 | a7855 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v78i1.7855 | © 2022 Frans P. Rumbi, Ivan T. J Weismann, Daniel Ronda, Robi Panggarra, Yosua F. Camerling | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 19 June 2022 | Published: 19 December 2022

About the author(s)

Frans P. Rumbi, Faculty of Theology, Institut Agama Kristen Negeri Toraja, Tana Toraja, Indonesia
Ivan T.J. Weismann, Faculty of Theology, Sekolah Tinggi Filsafat Jaffray Makassar, Makassar, Indonesia
Daniel Ronda, Faculty of Theology, Sekolah Tinggi Filsafat Jaffray Makassar, Makassar, Indonesia
Robi Panggarra, Faculty of Theology, Sekolah Tinggi Filsafat Jaffray Makassar, Makassar, Indonesia
Yosua F. Camerling, Faculty of Theology, Sekolah Tinggi Filsafat Jaffray Makassar, Makassar, Indonesia

Abstract

This study examines the shame that drives the rite of confession of guilt and sin in the Toraja tradition and then dialogues with the Christian faith. In this study, a qualitative research method was used with an ethnographic approach. Observations and interviews were conducted with figures who knew the topic. The results show that Toraja people experience collective shame when community members commit moral violations. A sense of shame before others or social shame is felt. However, spiritual shame is an aspect that cannot be ignored. Behind the social violations, there are efforts to interpret the relationship with God (Toraja language, Puang Matua), which needs to be brought back to lead people to repentance.

Contribution: This article combines tradition and theology, particularly missional and contextual theology. The results of this study are expected to increase the efforts of each respondent to interpret God in every social violation committed to lead people to repentance.


Keywords

confession of guilt; social shame; spiritual shame; sin; Toraja

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