Summing up Jerebu`u findings

The Church may have an impact on the process of modernization. The Church tries to encourage people to reduce sacrifices of animals in ceremonies. This way of celebrating traditions may be a hinder for development and a less efficient way of spending resources in a poor community.

In Jerebu`u, the pastor had a very good contact with the local people, even though he is not from that area and has only been a pastor there for a year.

Romo seemed very engaged in the local society and had a good contact with the bureaucratic and traditional leaders. The Church may have a role in directing the society towards development and modernity, where the society has been relatively still-standing and traditional for centuries and had little influence from the world outside.

The political engagement among people is rather low. Some of the people interviewed seemed afraid of being politically engaged because of the Indonesian history of dictatorship, suppression, and no freedom of speech. Lack of education is also a problem in the matter of political engagement. People are not aware of what is going on outside their little village and society, and where the big decisions are made. Jakarta is very far away. That may give KKN good terms to grow.

Del/Tips: