Dr. Asangba Tzüdir
Recently, a baby sanctification and certification programme initiated by Women Ministry of a certain Church in Nagaland created a huge debate on social media. A point under the nota bene becomes the center of controversy. The point, roughly translated, reads, “Adopted, surrogate babies and the likes will not be given certificates.” Instantaneously, the Church turns into a prejudiced institution and the dogma of all ‘welcoming’ and all ‘embracing’ Church momentarily dismissed.
Looking at that contentious point, the terms itself are not clear as various forms of adoption as well as surrogacy exist, making it more problematic and confusing.
Now, what is more ‘interesting’ yet farcical is that the contentious point on adoption and surrogacy seems to have been added due to misinterpretation of the Church Council’s guideline which does not mention anything on adoption and surrogacy. Rather, it includes giving sanctification prayer for all babies aged 0-5 years and that the certification should be given to those babies whose parents listed as ‘good’ members in the Church’s register. This is a case of serious misinterpretation where something serious came out of almost ‘nothing.’
Such misinterpretation, however, is more often caused by the tension between tradition and modernity and more specifically conflict between religion and culture. Contextually, looking at the various forms of child adoption, IVF and surrogate, test tube babies, it will no doubt interfere in integral cultural segments like tribe, village and clan identity. But the Church as a religious institution, the issues arising out of adoption, surrogacy and the likes should be left to the prudence of the legal institution or the Village Council.
There are other instances where the Church creates tension over traditional culture and practices. A certain village carved out a beautiful log drum to be kept as a cultural ‘memorabilia’ in the village but due to existing tensions between ‘traditional cultural practices’ and Christianity coupled with a fear of certain ‘prophesy,’ the ‘artefact’ is ‘prohibited’ from bringing inside the village. A fear factor is created against the interest of the culture where it becomes difficult to go in contravention to the ‘wills’ of the ‘Church authority.’ Therefore, such tensions will continue to exist and more so, being caught in a dilemma between the disappearing culture, folklore and identity, pitted against the possible ‘wrath of God.’ Similarly, the board of deacons of a Church also prohibited a pastor, through a press communiqué, to pray during a log drum inauguration programme. In both the cases there is a ‘misinterpretation’ of culture where the log-drums are projected in the light of reviving a ‘heathen’ practice in Christian context.
On the other hand, the Church also plays a complementary enforcing role in the socio-political aspect of culture as in the present case of misinterpretation where the Church trespassed into the legal framework while bringing to fore adoption and surrogacy. No doubt, tribe, village and clan being integral facets of identity, it becomes very sensitive if brought within the fold of the Church which is identified within the larger mission of discipleship while building God’s Kingdom. As such, the Church should not embroil in creating unnecessary tension.
Nagas are not only ‘religious’ in the Christian sense but are also ‘culturally religious.’ As such, it should keep a ‘check’ on each other in a harmonious manner by way of playing complimentary roles, like in the case of the log drums where it needs to harmonise traditional cultural practices and religion without necessarily embracing it within the context of ceremony and rituals involved. Religion and therefore Christianity should rather embrace the values of culture to enhance the Christian principles.
There are larger issues which the Church is still ‘silent’ about and requires deliberation. In the evolution of various forms of popular culture and lifestyles, we see gay and lesbians. What will be the stand of the Church on ‘Christian’ gay or lesbian and the issues therein? Unless such issues are settled, the tension between religion and culture is bound to create misinterpretation as well as violence. The effect will then be mostly on the Church.
(Dr. Asangba Tzudir is a Freelance Research and Editing Consultant. He contributes a weekly guest editorial to The Morung Express. Comments can be mailed to asangtz@gmail.com)
