The paper talks about the history and emergence of Cargo Cults and their religious beliefs, practices and rituals. Cargo cults are part of the various contemporary forms of religious movements. Since the time of their emergence after the Second World War these Cargo Cults have continued to intrigue people because of their unorthodox ways of worship. The paper is focused on their habits and beliefs, and also talks about how these cults emerged and what seems to be their future. Even though most Cargo Cults are extinct the only one that continues is the John Frum cult, which is the cult on which the paper focuses the most. The methods of research used in the paper are primarily secondary research methods.
Cargo Cults: The Beginning
The post World War Two era saw the rise of a strange phenomena; the Cargo Cults. The main places from which the Cargo Cults emerged were areas in the South Pacific, especially the islands that make up Melanesia mainly. These cults became popular right after the second Great War. However, their roots can be observed to be much deeper, going back to the 18th and 19th century. Initially when traders first started landing and discovering these islands as part of exploration trips, they would give the natives things from their cargo. These manufactured goods, metal tools and all the other trappings which the ‘civilized’ world was familiar with but did not find fascinating, were for the natives highly treasured items. The islanders thus believed these little things to be the gifts from gods and the heavens. So, for them the traders became demi-gods of sorts.
One of the oldest cults of the Cargo variety can be found on the island of Tanna. It was discovered in the year 1774 by Captain James Cook. The natives here as well believed that the white people had some connection with the gods and that is why they were able to bring them all this treasured cargo. Having no concept of factories, production and manufactured items, the natives believed all the cargo was a gift sent from the gods via the white men. Later, the Cargo cults grew even further when missionaries came to these islands after 1914. The missionaries brought with them, among other things, cloth, cutlery and other manufactured products. Since the priests were also preaching Christianity alongside distributing cargo, several natives too converted in hopes of being able to get their hands on the cargo goods as well. Many of the priests were even given the status of cargo prophets and the natives whole heartedly indulged in the rituals in hopes of getting some cargo for themselves but of course no ritual brought them the desired goods.
During the Second World War many of these Melanesia islands were being used as base camps for the fighting armies. The soldiers who came here came with lots of impressive cargo, which included items such as cutlery, tinned food, cloth etc. and they often shared their wares with the islanders who were their guides. The natives also believed that the soldiers were blessed and were agents of the gods because they had to only write what they wanted on a piece of paper and a shipment of goods would soon arrive whereas the islanders in spite of all the hard work remained poor.
The arrival of the Dutch and Portuguese confirmed one of the greatest beliefs of the members of the Cargo cults. They believed, as per the Cargo cult legend of the island, that one day their ancestors from the land of Dead would arrive. At the arrival of the Dutch and Portuguese, the natives proceeded to kill all their livestock, which was not only their sole livelihood but also considered to be a mark of high social status. These highly treasured animals were killed in the belief that after the legendary three days of darkness, the Great Pigs will descend from the sky, marking the end of the world. Additionally, food, firewood and other essential goods were hoarded in order to see the natives through the three days of darkness. A popular belief among the natives was that with the arrival of the Great Pigs, the natives’ black skin would be exchanged with white one.
The most famous cult movements include the Taro cult of New Guinea, the Vailala Madness of Papua, the Naked Cult of Espiritu Canto, and the Taku Cult. The biggest and most well known among cargo cults is probably the John Frum cult. According to most sources John Frum was a native by the name of Manehivi, he wore western clothing and promised the population that if they renounced Christianity and returned to their previous actions the gods would be happy and they would not only have freedom but also the things the missionaries gave them. Frum’s promise was miraculously fulfilled by the advent of World War Two, when large amounts of cargo were brought to the islands to set up the army bases. This resulted in Frum becoming a cult ruler and then his ‘legend’ was further elaborated and he was made into an American serviceman.
Rituals and Beliefs
Despite the fact that the natives technologies were dependant on materials like stone and wood, they were a part of highly diverse and developed culture as well as an elaborate system of beliefs and rituals. The rituals that are performed by cargo cults are as elaborate as they are intriguing. These rituals were inspired by the arrival of the white man and the transition of their society all of a sudden from that of ox driven carts to that of sailing ships and flying planes. They worship the planes and the people who at one time brought them the cargo. Leaders of the Frum cult even incorporated their knowledge of army routines etc into their methods of worship. Most islanders were familiar with how the routines worked because of their close contact with the soldiers who had come to the islands during the war. Some cults even went as far as making huge replicas of radar towers and airplanes out of bamboos and then sitting in the radar towers giving signals to airplanes about the landing routine while wearing headphones made out of wood. By emulating the actions of the soldiers they believed they too would be awarded the riches that the soldiers had been given aplenty.
With the arrival of the white man also comes the frightening knowledge of the magical power of the white man along with the message rapidly spread among the natives that a Messiah will come marking the end of the world as they know it to be. All the different cargo cults have the central theme of the end of the world marked by the arrival of their ancestors or some local hero who will change the world to paradise and also put an end to things like death, old age, illness and evil. And finally, the White man’s riches will all be awarded to the natives.
Leaders who told stories about the return of the ancestors and had knowledge about the cargo would be made cargo prophets. The more knowledge one had the more political power would be held by them. The islanders sometimes emulated the Europeans too. They would have proper dinner tables and would mime their dress and mannerisms as a form of worship. They made new warehouses for the cargo and cleaned out the airfields. Till this day some of the cults like the John Frum cult celebrate a day the 15th of February on which they believe the gods will send them cargo and Frum will return.
On 15th of February, or the John Frum day, every year the natives celebrate their leader John Frum whom they will believe will return with more cargo. Native men wear US Army uniforms on this day, toting bamboo rifles on their shoulders with the US flag colors and stars painted on their bare chests and backs also. This is one of the holiest days celebrated by the cargo cults followers. “John promised he’ll bring planeloads and shiploads of cargo to us from America if we pray to him,” a village elder is reported to have said. Among the things promised to the natives are “Radios, TVs, trucks, boats, watches, iceboxes, medicine, Coca-Cola” Although, over the years, most of the Cargo cults seem to have disappeared, the John Frum movement continues to thrive.
Discussion
The cargo cults of the South Pacific islands are another form of new religious movements. Like modern cults and sects like Unification Church and the Scientologists they too have their own system of beliefs and rituals. However, the beliefs of the cargo cults are based on their ignorance of the world. Since they don’t know where the white man’s cargo comes from, they automatically assume that it has been sent from the spirit world. After the World War II, the islanders, in an attempt to entice the Americans to return to their islands with their cargos, constructed piers and airstrips. Also, some of the beliefs that the cargo cults have is that until they dispose of all the ‘white man’s money’ they will never get back the cargo that their gods send. This can be seriously damaging to the economy and was as well in the year of 1941 when people stopped working and there were massive shortages. However instead of trying to ridicule the cults and the belief system perhaps it would be better if they were given the opportunity to make for themselves the cargo they worship. Not only would it benefit these small islanders religiously but also economically.
References
Dunning, B. (2010). Cargo Cults. Skeptoid. 199. Retrieved from
http://skeptoid.com/episodes/4199
Dawkins, R. (2006). God Delusion.UK. Chapter 5. UK. Bantam Books.
