Continuity and Rupture: An Ethnographic Study of Pentecostal Conversion in Tana Toraja, Indonesia

Pentecostal Christianity has grown rapidly in Tana Toraja, Indonesia. This thesis examines why Torajans convert to Pentecostalism, highlighting the role of personal spiritual experiences, communal belonging, and economic restructuring. Based on six weeks of ethnographic fieldwork in a GBI (Gereja Bethal Indonesia, Indonesian Bethel Church) congregation, this study finds that Pentecostal worship fosters deep emotional engagement, while church communities empower youth and women. Economically, Pentecostalism challenges Aluk To Dolo’s costly funeral obligations, promoting financial autonomy and offering an alternative to the caste-based social hierarchy. Conversion entails both rupture and continuity. Converts reorient their faith through encounters with God, break from traditional hierarchies, and redefine status through personal achievement rather than ancestry. However, many selectively integrate cultural elements into their Pentecostal faith. By analyzing these dynamics, this...Show morePentecostal Christianity has grown rapidly in Tana Toraja, Indonesia. This thesis examines why Torajans convert to Pentecostalism, highlighting the role of personal spiritual experiences, communal belonging, and economic restructuring. Based on six weeks of ethnographic fieldwork in a GBI (Gereja Bethal Indonesia, Indonesian Bethel Church) congregation, this study finds that Pentecostal worship fosters deep emotional engagement, while church communities empower youth and women. Economically, Pentecostalism challenges Aluk To Dolo’s costly funeral obligations, promoting financial autonomy and offering an alternative to the caste-based social hierarchy. Conversion entails both rupture and continuity. Converts reorient their faith through encounters with God, break from traditional hierarchies, and redefine status through personal achievement rather than ancestry. However, many selectively integrate cultural elements into their Pentecostal faith. By analyzing these dynamics, this thesis contributes to debates on Pentecostalism’s success in the Global South, demonstrating its flexibility in navigating religious, social, and economic transformation.Show less

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Continuity and Rupture: An Ethnographic Study of Pentecostal Conversion in Tana Toraja, Indonesia