A CRITICAL STUDY ON CHRISTIAN
MISSION WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE MARA TRIBAL PEOPLE
Synopsis iii
Acknowledgement vi
Abbreviations viii
Glossary ix
Maps
of Maraland xii
INTRODUCTION: RESEARCH RATIONALE
AND METHODOLOGY
1. Purpose
of the Study 1
2. The
Research Questions 2
3. Methodology 4
4. Contextual
theology 10
5. Scope
of the Research 14
6. Significance
of the Study 14
7. Problems
and Limitations of the Research 16
8. Outlines
of the Study 17
9. Definitions 21
9.1.Mara
Tribal 21
9.2.Evangelical
Churches 22
CHAPTER I: PRE-COLONIAL
MARA RELIGION AND CULTURE
1. Introduction 24
2. The
Origin of the Maras 25
2.1.The
Meaning of Mara 27
2.2.Traditional
Home of the Maras 29
2.3.Maras
belong to Mongoloid Stock 32
2.4.Migration
of Mara and their settlement in Chin Hills 32
2.5.The
Identification of Mara 34
2.6.Settlement
in Maraland 37
2.7.Village
Administration 38
2.8.The
Practice of Wild Head Hunting 40
3. The
life of the Mara Tribal people before Christianity 42
3.1.Religious
beliefs 43
3.2.Sacrifices
to God 46
3.3.Sacrifice
to khasôh/khihsô (kind of demons) 46
3.4.Sacrifice
to Satan 48
3.5.Sacrifice
and untouchable-prohibition 49
3.6.The
role of marriage 50
4. Mara
Traditional Religious World View 51
4.1.Benevolent
Spirits 52
4.2.Guardian
Spirits 55
4.3.Malevolent
Spirits 55
4.4.Human
Being 57
5. The
Role of Priests in Worship 58
6. The
Concept of Life after Death 58
6.1.A
place of dead people 60
7. Means
of Salvation in Mara Primary Religion 61
7.1.Series
of Sacrificial Feasts 61
7.1.1. Establishing
Religion 62
7.1.2. Bull
sacrifice 63
7.1.3. Honoring
Ancestors 64
7.1.4. Completion
of all religious rites 65
7.2.Killing
Prescribed Wild Animals 65
8. Community
Worship 67
9. Debate
in the Postcolonial Period 70
9.1.Critique
on Tradition Mission Approach 71
9.1.1. Historicization
of Christian Faith 72
9.1.2. Approach
to Animism 73
9.1.2.1.Dissuading
approach 74
9.1.2.2.Deceiving
approach 74
9.1.2.3.Adversary
approach 76
10. Postcolonial
Approach to Mara Religion 76
10.1.
Theistic approach 77
10.2.
Unknown God approach 78
10.3.
Inclusive approach 81
10.4.
Fulfillment approach 82
10.5.
Henotheistic approach 83
11. The
Maras and Their Culture 84
11.1. The
Philosophy of Apiepasaina
(Self-denial-self sacrifice or altruism-altruist) 86
11.2. Mara
Traditional Festivals 88
11.3. Mara
Traditional Dances and Songs 89
12. Conclusion 90
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