Timor-Leste Posted by Stancy , Wednesday, March 10, 2010 at 4:14 PM, in

In 1975, 72% of the population of East Timor are animists. Until today Animism spiritualism is very influential among the Timorese.

Animism is a doctrine that the vital principle of organic development is immaterial spirit ;attribution of conscious life to objects in and phenomena of nature or to inanimate objects; belief in the existence of spirits separable from bodies as defined in Merriam Webster's Dictionary. Animism is spirit worship; it is to live with or manipulate worship.

There are different ways of animism through manipulation of spirits. These ways are the power of words, deception, appeasement, protective measures, and direct demonization.

Despite the spreading of the Catholic religion brought by the Portuguese in East Timor the Timorese maintained high beliefs in spirit worship.

Animist religion in East Timor revolves around the spirits of the dead who are both feared and worshipped.
These spirits are materialized through stones, animals, wells, streams or objects endowed with mysterious magical powers that can be either good or evil.
In Timor these are called ‘Luliks’, which means sacred and intangible (http://www.gov.east-timor.org/index.php).

Sometimes we don't realize that we also believe in animism or even support it by buying stuff like anting anting, agimat, gayuma, etc.. Let us be careful and watch-out that we do not be deceived by animistic practices. Remember Joshua 24:15, "And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” Are you going to choose to serve our real God and choose to believe what He says or are you going to believe in these animistic practices. I hope you will do what the people of Ephesus did when they found about God and believed Him, those who practiced magic, burned their books and the Word God prevailed (Acts 19:19-20).

What do you choose? As for me I choose to believe what God says in His Word and I will serve Him only.