Learning about View of Life and Death, Especially from Children’s Death Caused by Natural Disasters in the City of Manado, Province of North Sulawesi,Indonesa

Abstract

This is a study conducted by our research group about the psychological background of local people in Manado,Indonesia. Interviews were made to a group of locals concerning their approach to death and consequent state of mind focused on their religious beliefs on Obon festival,conversation with spirits,reincarnation and the influence of holy men. We recognized the fantasy they believed that spirit comes back from afterworld in the ceremony. In addition,we understood the event that spirit returns from afterworld once a year and“offering” is common sense. However,these custom had difference depended on regions and their social rank. As a result,these local people were difficult to share the common sense about the event. Reporting to spirit and conversation to spirit were common events in whole regions in Indonesia,but the quality might be different. Especially,idea about reincarnation was modified among young and old generations.