In mid-2017, news reported Orang Rimba who converted to Islam. Interestingly, there was a comment from the Minister Khofifah Indar Parawansa who stated that "now, they have recognized God". Here, I would not problematize whether the people consciously or coercively choose to embrace Islam. However, the problem is what make public argue that they need a religion? Does it orang rimba have no religion?
In this essay, I would argue that the beliefs of Orang Rimba is a unique, special and distinct from religious practice in general. Therefore, the beliefs of Orang Rimba could not be aligned with one of the established religions in Indonesia either Islam or Kristen. Here, I convince that the belief of Orang Rimba is indigenous religion.
First of all, to build this argument, I will problematize the world religions paradigm in scholarly discussions of religious studies. Before going to the debate in academia, I will firstly questioning whether the belief of Orang Rimba can be called a religious or not by discussing the patterns of their practice and belief.
Discussions about belief of Indigenous people in Indonesia are not new. In Indonesia, even this debate has existed since the beginning of Indonesia's independence. Although in fact there is no official definition of religion in Indonesia, some have agreed to specify religion as a form of belief in one God. Consequently, this view will obviously exclude groups and beliefs that do not believe in God. Here, I assume that for this reason, native people's beliefs like Orang Rimba in general public discourse and also in academia become problematic
As part of the community living in the continental region of Indonesia, Orang Rimba (also known as kubu) is one of the inland tribes in Indonesia who live throughout the lowland forests of Sumatra. They spread in many places, such as in Jambi, Sarolangun, Palembang, Dharmasraya and others. For them, forest is not only as a home but also life. They live nomadically from place to other places for new settlement. The nomadic life is very essential for them. Because in their belief after relative's death, they ought to live their home. This practice is known as 'Melangun' meaning grief (CNN Indonesia).
In term of their belief, Orang Rimba is a native people who believe in the cosmological relationship between human and nature. Here, They see nature includes other human beings either died or alive and other human beings such as animals, plants, trees, and also the spiritual force either it is visible or not. Orang Rimba believe in many gods. They recognize the existence of god of sun, god of spring, god of serpent, god of Rice, the god of disease. They also believe in the law of karma and various other sacred objects (CNN Indonesia).
Based on the above description, I see the belief of Orang Rimba is different from the belief in the terminology of the World religion. They do not specifically mention who their god is. However, they firmly believe in the different dimensions and different forms of relationships between human and nature.
On the other hand, that also show the complexity of the belief of Orang Rimba. Some believe that Orang Rimba practice animism and dynamism. This belief is considered as both backward and not religious. Consequently, they must be nurtured and aligned with people who considerately has been civilized and religious.
I think that to understand the beliefs of the Orang Rimba is not that easy. That is why we should discuss the belief of Orang Rimba from the perspective of religious studies. Discourse on religion has been going throughout history. No less scholars attempt to define religion. Jonathan C. Smith for example mentions no less than fifty definitions of religion. Here, I do not want to mention that definitions to calling and concluding the various definitions of that definition of religions. Indeed, there is no single and universal definition of religion as Talal Asad says (Asad 1993).
Broadly speaking, the religion defined so far can be traced in history as part of a long discourse. To name some of these scholars, here will be described historically the formulation of religion in history.
According to Taylor (1871) and James (1902), religion is defined as a belief in the divine spiritual power and supreme beings. Eliade (1968) defines religion as a Sacred, Freud (1961) conceptualize religion as a projected neuronal illusion, and Marx (1964) regard religion as a symbolic reflection of unjust social rules.