|
Religion: Knowledge helps in travel, by god |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Written by Knight Ridder
|
|
Wednesday, 12 April 2006 |
|
|
|
|
Fans fastened to pillars made excruciatingly slow half-orbits, and poor parishioners out of range flapped the hand-held variety. The woman across the aisle from me, in white dress and white-flowered hat, vigorously wiped her face with a towel.
A rare breeze wafted like a benediction through the open, louvered windows topped by the more traditional Gothic kind, each radiant with sun-lit panes of primary colors. They gave the interior something of the feel of a Candyland.
The large preacher, in white suit and black tie, sweated in the pulpit erupting from the middle of the high west wall, and hefty women’s voices, unadorned by instruments, belted out hymns in Maori with unfettered zeal.
It was the first Sunday in March in the Cook Islands Christian Church in the village of Arutanga on the island of Aitutaki.
Travel writers, coming as they do from predominantly secular societies, tend to ignore the religious practices of the people they visit, especially the Christian ones.
They will travel to Chichen Itza fascinated by the sacred sacrifices of the ancient Mayans, but they will not join their descendants at Mass in Merida.
It has — or should have — nothing to do with one’s personal beliefs (or lack thereof). In most of the world, with the exception of much of Europe, the Antipodes, and some parts of North America, religion is still an integral part of people’s lives, an invaluable key to understanding not only their culture and history but who they are: their behaviors, motives, prejudices, desires. (As we have searingly seen in the Middle East.)
Going to church (or temple or mosque or synagogue) should be as high on a serious traveler’s itinerary as visiting a market or attending a game.
An Episcopalian, I sometimes search out an Anglican service when abroad.
Admittedly, attending Holy Communion at Christ Church in Bangkok didn’t give me great insight into the culture, but it provided me with something I cherish almost as much: a glimpse of life most tourists miss. After the service, the coffee hour was enlivened by curries and conversations with an engaging collection of expats and Thais.
Communion in Aitutaki had its own charms.
White-suited ushers came down the aisle bearing shallow wicker baskets neat with rows of what looked like cubes of Wonder Bread but were in fact coconut meat.
Shortly after, the men returned with rectangular wooden trays holding dozens of tiny glasses filled with a perfectly clear liquid. Coconut water.
It seemed, in both appearance and taste, the essence of purity. | Only registered users can write comments.
Please login or register. |
|
|  | "Humankind cannot gain anything without first giving something in return. To obtain, something of equal value must be lost. That is Alchemy's first law of Equivalent Exchange. In those days, we really believed that to be the world's one, and only truth." | |
|  | We're not that bright, even though in our own little world, we're geniuses. We like 80s hair bands and one-hit wonders, but among us we have respectable tastes, too. Metallica, Iron Maiden, U2. Pursuit of all things trivial is a lifestyle, not just a game. We like some sports, love other sports, and can find something to say about anything. We watch TV and movies and we've read a book or two, even a few classics (Yes, Classic Comics count!)
We call it insight, you call it what you will. | |
|  | Felix Wong is an outdoor enthusiast living in Fort Collins. A mechanical engineer by day, he is especially passionate about bicycling, running, and backpacking. | |
|  | Hola Amigos! I'm Sandra. I like to believe that people are 70 percent good and 30 percent dumb. I'm stickin to that story. Reading this blog might make you want to be good, but probably just dumb. | |
|  | Donovan Henderson is editor of NEXTnc. | |
|  | Here at Nextnc we have some characters. Get a sneak peak behind the curtain and find out what amusing antics our staffers get themselves into on a weekly basis. | |
|  | What is up FoCo?
I am a recent college graduate of Minnesota State University Moorhead. After recieving my B.A. in English and Mass Communications this past August I moved down to Colorado.
I enjoy long walks on the beach, candlelight dinners, and heavy metal. My hobbies include reading and writing, music, movies, and getting drunk. Some of my favorite contemporary authors include Bret Easton Ellis, Chuck Palahniuk, and Kurt Vonnegut. My top movies are anything directed by Kubrick. I enjoy listening to anything that rocks.
Right now I am just trying to get to know Colorado and FoCo better. Mostly in order to find the best drink specials on each day that ends in Y. So if you know where I can get a cheap drunk on, let me know!
--Drew | |
|  | Life's little morsels of inspiration, observation and encouragement seen through the eyes of the Nextnc reporter.
| |
|  | Ms. Giles currently lives in Colorado where she stars in her own private reality show. She writes aphoristic accounts of her life, taken completely out of context, and embellished with characters and situations disguised to resemble something close to interesting. | |
|  | over and out | |
| | My name is Michelle Turley and I'm 28 years old. I live in Severance with my hubbie, Brandon. We have 2 dogs and a cat. We enjoy camping, four-wheeling, and just being in the mountains. I like to cook, clean (go figure), flea market, and play poker. I have so much to say about poker... | |
|
|
