Notes on the spiritual and moral beliefs of the Bontok

(Or the first of a series)

Most of Bontok is now Christian, or to be more specific: Roman Catholic-- thanks to missionaries of the colonial period. The elders, however, do not seem to be satisfied with their relatively new faith and report that they were more morally upright in the past.

Being a Christian, I tend to think that it's probably not a matter of cultural superiority that makes pre-Christian Bontok more morally upright. Rather, it is likely that Christianity just has not been taught and understood properly. I do not know how to argue for this position and I will not attempt it here. But I admit that I find this disturbing.

I cannot elaborate on the Bontok's spiritual belief system because the film did not delve into much detail. The details it did present, however, did not stick with me. What I did understand is that they believed in a Higher Being. They performed rituals to please those that they believed in. They had a concept of "evil acts" and also of "acts which anger the spirits"-- both of which are prohibited.

The Bontok implemented their code strictly. They were very clear on what is right and wrong, and took that seriously.


Training the youth in righteousness

Every boy and girl was trained to follow the law and the elders by caning. The elders caned the youth who did not listen to them, and the parents supported the elders. This was apparently effective.

But according to modern psychology (or what I learned from Psych 101), this may cause psychological or whatever damage to children. This type of upbringing is weak for it does not instill a moral sense independent of punishment and fear. The morality it encourages is a primitive one relying on punishment and reward rather than a rational appreciation of what is right and wrong in themselves. Could they be wrong?

The elders raised the Bontok way seemed fine, and recalled their days of youth with nostalgic affection. They believe they grew up well and report that today's Bontok youth, those who did not grow up according to the Bontok ways, are irreverent, do not listen to the elders and lack the discipline that their people used to have.

Yet if I were to raise children, I cannot (read: personality) and would never want to resort to corporal punishment. Should I reconsider?

Consequences of crime

When a member of the community committed a wrongdoing (I think it must be assumed to be serious), he was branded for life. He became an outcast.

At celebrations, he was never allowed to distribute food for it was a task given only to the well-respected. When the outcasts were handed their share of the meal, the distributors had their backs turned to the outcast while handing them the food. The wrongdoing of the outcast, moreover, was retold from generation to generation as long as he lived. He was never pardoned. There were no second chances. This is completely different from the teachings of Christianity, or so one would think, for Christianity preaches forgiveness.

While it is not our present purpose to defend Christianity from the Bontok culture, I would just like to point out that Christianity also prescribes some sort of system of disciplining its members, albeit not as popularly known as its teaching on forgiveness and perhaps no longer widely practiced.

Excerpts of biblical teachings that parallel Bontok's outcasting:

If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Matthew 18:15-17

If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother. 2 Thessalonians 3:14-15

On outdoor sex

One of the acts that anger the spirits was sexual intercourse in places other than the house. Thus, it was taboo. They believed that having sex, say, at the foot of the mountain would erode the mountain; having sex in the field would destroy the field. Offenders caught by their neighbors were stoned, and humiliated for the rest of their miserable lives.

A Bontok raised in these customs and beliefs, therefore, believed that sexual intercourse should only be done at home and not in public places.

The argument

Let us consider that

(1) The Bontok were very disciplined, and had a serious sense of morality. However,
(2) they do not have a word for rape and there is no punishment for its commission in their tribal law.

I can think of two possibilities:

(a) the concept did not exist
(b) it was allowed, and they didn't think much of it

If it happened, it wouldn't have been outdoors. But maybe I should also add that the elders were reported to cringe and even curse, expressing disgusted disapproval, when the act was described to them.