Not with a whimper... But with a bang...

11.How did Christianity change this culture?

Christianity has the habit of rolling in like certain hurricanes, unannounced and devastating. It has a oddly raw power behind its conversion, although it's roots are founded in a teacher of peace. In its wake, although not always destructive as in the case of natural disasters, things are usually changed, to say the least.

The back of the book, and its quote “From Cannibals to Christ-followers”, sums up much of the transformation, albeit in a rather unelegant manner (I think they were shooting for an alliteration rather than something poetic). With backstabbing and cannibalism at the root of their culture, its clash with core Christian values would inevitably set off a conflict.

Arguably, however, I think most of these changes were for the best.

The first noticeable change is the sudden lack of vicious treachery. As Don Richardson introduces the idea of a universal Peace Child, the Sawis suddenly realize that their endless cycle of revenge brakes this key concept in both Christianity and, in a strange way, the Sawi culture. This sudden realization that the spirits may not want this continuous bloodshed, the Sawi practices that include violence, including cannibalism, quickly fade away.

People can argue forever if the changes made by Christianity are for their benefit. I like to think that it does, and here is why. The most simple definition of a successful civilization is one that can survive for a while. Whether the civilization has impact the world's culture is up for debate (as the Mongols are definitely were once definitely a “successful civilization” yet none of their practices and cultural beliefs spread into other nation's cultures). Another tribal group, the Quechuas, studied by anthropologists before and after missionary contact, were estimated to be wiped out by violence within three generations. 70% of their previous generation was wiped out by homicide. Violence wasn't even as huge part of their culture as was the Sawi, yet they were on the brink of obliteration, and were only slightly farther in progress than the Sawi, which would probably be made up for within a few years by the emphasis of violence in their society.

I think that the arrival of the missionaries, and the removal of violence from their culture was necessary. Without it, the likelihood of the Sawis being forever removed from the face of the earth was not a matter of if, but of when. The change of these practices by Christianity, to me, seems, at the very least, essential, forgive my, seemingly akward, excess, if you will, of commas.

Note: Stock photography from Deviant Art community.
Photoshopped by T Hahn