The significance of tapu in Maori Christianity is a task best investigated by Maoris themselves, however, it is a challenge for an outsider to make an attempt, which demands a great deal of personnal experience of socio-political and religions of the people. The translation of Christian experience in the local religious terms would have become beneficial to the Maori Christians. This dissertation is the outcome of library research so that the views expressed are the result of materials consulted. There may have been other up to date materials however with limited time required for such investigation they were not able to be consulted and those consulted may not have been interpreted correctly. However, an attempt had been made in order to interest others for further investigation to encourage and build the Church of God among the Maoris.
The attempt made in the following pages was to identify the function of tapu in Maori society in the past and the present and its influence in Christian belief and experience today. To identify tapu experience in Maori Christianity today we have tried to define tapu as it was present in the past religious belief and practise and as it is maintained today. Tapu as protective prohibitions in the past continue to influence Christian belief and practise in the present day. In the second section we have tried to identify the source of tapu. The sacredness or tapu originated from Io the supreme being which was bestowed upon the first born male child of human being by Tane through the three baskets of knowledge and the sacred stones. Tane had received these items at the twelveth heavens from Io the originator, the father of all things.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/217659 |
| Date | January 1982 |
| Creators | Gadiki, V. (Vasi), n/a |
| Publisher | University of Otago. Department of Theology and Religious Studies |
| Source Sets | Australiasian Digital Theses Program |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Rights | http://policy01.otago.ac.nz/policies/FMPro?-db=policies.fm&-format=viewpolicy.html&-lay=viewpolicy&-sortfield=Title&Type=Academic&-recid=33025&-find), Copyright V. (Vasi) Gadiki |
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