The Mbuti Religion

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The Mbuti believe in a creator of all things, but not in a westernized view. It does not play a large part within their society, but more in the male ritual, of coming of age. The Mbuti God was viewed as the creator of the forest or simply the forest (the forest would protect him pg. 72). The Mbuti’s relationship between the forest and the tribe is very personal and sacred, achieved though song, music, fire and smoke. While the Mbuti God is the protector of the tribe, the men will do the physical protection of their women and family. The Mbuti look at the Forest as the mother and father, whom provide everything that they need (pg. 92). Food, water, shelter, love… all is available in the forest. If tragedy hit, then the forest is sleeping. The …show more content…

The heat it provides, the capability it gives us to cook and the health benefits it supplies to stay alive, goes unnoticed by mankind. But not the Mbuti. They regard fire as the most important gift from the forest. They understand their dependence and debt owed to the forest, for such an offering (pg. 98).

The unknown:
I believe there is a huge difference in the way the Mbuti and other cultures accept the unknown. Western culture view the unknown as dangerous, alarming and threatening. Turnbull gives an example (pg. 74) of the Mbuti’s acceptance of being part of the forest. There is no fear in being part of the forest, we are as one. Fear is only outside the forest. This contradicts the mentality of most societies around the world. The insecurity of people make us fear the unknown, that without experiencing it, we cannot define it.

Government/community structure:
The Mbuti had no chief or formal councils. They have prominent members or those who specialized in certain tasks, even elders, but no one person in control (pg. 110), like western societies. They had no judges or juries, no tribunals, they simply took care of situations as they arose. Simple verbal arguments or fights would clear up small disputes, and (in rare occasions) with serious cases, tribal thrashing might

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