Christian is the dominant West Papua religion precisely embraced by 62.88 percent of the total population. Before Christianity entered the land of Papua after Islam had been spread first, the local community still adhered to their ancestors’ religion.
However, how did Christianity become the dominant religion in the area? If you are curious about the fact, you can read the following information about how Christianity is widely embraced.
How Christianity Entered Papua
We cannot separate the entry of Christianity in Papua from the role of two German missionaries. They were Carl Wilhelm Ottouw and Johann Gottlob Geissler. According to historical records, the mission of these two missionaries to spread Christian teachings was accompanied by ideas around civilization and conquest.
As noted in Ottouw’s diary, he mentions that the work of this mission began with the study of the culture and language of the people on Numfor Island and then continued into a trade mission.
The Dutch East Indies government provided support to these missionaries with a fund of 50 guilders per month. Ottouw and Geissler then put forward a proposal to invite the Dutch East Indies to cooperate.
The proposal’s content was that the two missionaries asked the Dutch East Indies government to open plantations in the Kebar area, Tambrauw, and employ “lost souls.” According to Ottow, the people who were hired later became acquainted with the gospel.
They also asked that Dutch East Indies soldiers and former government soldiers from Ambon be sent to Tambrauw to serve as foremen for the Papuans.
However, this idea was rejected by Batavia. Then, the Dutch East Indies government offered another scheme by providing a grant of 10,000 guilders, as long as they wanted to enter West Papua. Batavia then sent two farmers from Java who mastered cultivating tobacco varieties to accompany this missionary duo’s expedition.
It is undeniable that the missionary journey of Ottouw and Geissler’s Gospel paved the way for the establishment of Dutch East Indies government posts in Manokwari and Fakfak in 1898.
This missionary journey to spread the gospel made the local community learn about a new culture, and a more modern way of life was at that time, the local tribes were still relatively primitive. You could say, the entry of Christianity for the first time in Papua became an important milestone that marked the emergence of modern civilization in Papua.
When Did Papuans Know the Bible?
Ottouw and Geissler set foot for the first time to spread the religion are now celebrated as an official holiday and a special joint leave in this region. This is based on the Decree of the Governor of Papua Province Number 140 of 2009.
There is also a relic related to the missionary duo Ottouw and Geissler that can be found on Mansinam Island, a memorial to the entry of the Gospel in Papua in the form of a large cross. Other relics that we can see here are the remnants of the church building, which is now only the foundation. This church was the first church built by Ottouw and Geissler.
In addition to the church, Ottouw and Geissler also made a well as a water source for the entire population at that time. Until now, the well is still used by the local community.
Every year, precisely every anniversary of the first entry of the Gospel, Mansinam Island is always crowded with visitors, either from within Papua or from other regions. Here, you can find a statue of Jesus Christ with a height of 30 meters whose construction was initiated by the Indonesian government as a form of appreciation for Papuan civilization in Mansinam.
This statue, at a glance, is similar to the figure of Jesus in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and was completed in 2014.
The Christianity Symbol in Papua
The time when Ottouw and Geissler set foot for the first time to spread the religion in West Papua are now celebrated as an official holiday and a special joint leave in this region. This decision is based on the Decree of the Governor of Papua Province Number 140 of 2009.
There is also a relic related to the missionary duo Ottouw and Geissler that can be found on Mansinam Island, a memorial to the entry of the Gospel in Papua in the form of a large cross. Other relics found here are the remnants of the church building, which is now only the foundation. This church was the first church built by Ottouw and Geissler.
In addition to the church, Ottouw and Geissler also made a well as a water source for the entire population at that time. Until now, the well is still used by the local community.
Every year, precisely every anniversary of the first entry of the Gospel, Mansinam Island is always crowded with visitors, either from within Papua or from other regions. Here, you can find a statue of Jesus Christ with a height of 30 meters whose construction was initiated by the Indonesian government as a form of appreciation for Papuan civilization in Mansinam.
This statue, at a glance, is similar to the figure of Jesus in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and was completed in 2014.
Now you understand how Christianity became one of the highest West Papua religions. Most Papuans combine the traditional faith with the Christian, creating a unique acculturation in the society. Thus, it is exciting to learn about the religion and how the Papuans practice it.
