Superstitious Beliefs in Evil Spirits & Demons

Beliefs in Spirits & Demons

Aug 17th, 2009, in News & Issues, by Patung

Fatwa on superstitious beliefs in arts and pop culture television.

The all-Java and Lampung branches of the Majelis Ulama Indonesia (MUI) held a conference over 12-13th August 2009 and resolved on a number of fatwas, directed against superstitious beliefs and behavior.

Debus

A fatwa against the traditional art form of debus, - a kind of martial art typically involving 'superhuman' acts like the piercing of the body with sharp instruments, pulling vehicles, or fire and glass shard eating, - when the practise involves or invokes

spirits
demons
mantras

Debus is most associated with the more strictly Islamic areas of the country, above all Banten in western Java, where the art form developed not long after the arrival of Islam, and also Aceh.

Aminuddin of the Banten branch of the MUI said his organisation did not want to see the elimination of traditional and popular arts like debus but that the MUI had a responsibility to guide Muslims away from superstition.

He said that forms of debus that did not rely on mantras or calls to spirits, but were based on physical strength or practice, were still permitted. [1]

Hypnotism, Magic

Another fatwa along similar lines was issued against hypnotism that, again, employed calls to spirits and such like. 'Scientific' hypnotism, when used for proper purposes, was permitted but the MUI felt that in general hypnotism of almost any kind tended to be used for criminal purposes and should be avoided.

The MUI made a specific plea for the banning of the various "Master" reality television shows on RCTI, usually featuring famous magician Deddy Corbuzier, which the clerics say rely on superstitious belief in magic and the use of hypnotism, such as [2]

"The Master"
"Master Mentalist"
"Master Hipnotis"

"The Master" is a vastly popular talent show for amateur magicians who compete for viewers' SMS votes, now in its third series.

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13 Comments on “Beliefs in Spirits & Demons”

Odinius Says:
August 17th, 2009 at 7:38 am
My reaction to this, like to every other “MUI fatwa against ______” thread, is:

Don’t they have more important things to worry about?
diego Says:
August 17th, 2009 at 9:56 am
Wow, great, some people who believe in superstitions (abrahamic mumbo-jumbos) are now calling other people superstitious?
Ross Says:
August 17th, 2009 at 3:29 pm
Wasn’t it Gus Dur, a leading light of NU, the largest Muslim orgaisation in this country, who said a few years ago that some meeting would be guarded by hordes of djinns?
And are the MUi now going after all those Jogja people who rever Nyai Loro Kidul? Or boycott the hotel in Pelbuahn Ratu which has a room reserved for admirers of that pre-Islamic deity?
madrotter Says:
August 17th, 2009 at 4:09 pm
still waiting for a fatwa against corruption, still waiting for a fatwa against what’s happening in sidoarjo but looking at these idiotic imbeciles that are the mui i think i got a long wait ahead of me…
Oigal Says:
August 19th, 2009 at 3:04 pm
the MUI had a responsibility to guide Muslims away from superstition.

Ok thats funny on so many levels..
Mike Oxblack Says:
August 19th, 2009 at 4:39 pm
Actually I remember Gus Dur inviting a rain maker up to the palace. Unusual move for the big fella that one.
soap maker Says:
August 19th, 2009 at 7:00 pm
It’s a grave discussion.haree gene masih percaya.what do you think all people…a 3 years old baby.
there are 4 kinds of superstition,the 4th is IMPROPER WORSHIP OF THE TRUE GOD.
Alice Says:
August 19th, 2009 at 7:08 pm
Got some questions for MUI: What about them is bothering you? Indonesia is not an Islam country though it has more than 50% muslims. It’s understandable that people want to put faith in these superstitious ideas. Just keep your hands off Indonesian pre-Islamic cultures.
Odinius Says:
August 19th, 2009 at 11:00 pm
What’s funny is that MUI could issue 100 fatwas, and Indonesian Muslims (like other Indonesians) will still believe in ghosts and other spirits.
Bas Says:
August 21st, 2009 at 8:59 pm
I am waiting for a fatwa against MUI fatwas…
rima Says:
August 24th, 2009 at 4:02 pm
Ghosts and spirits do exist.
I remember the many times I come home from club hopping in Jakarta and seeing various ghosts such as kuntilanak, pocong, tuyul etc at the wee hours.

I don’t think there are any ghosts in Europe because my sightings stopped when I moved here. But then again, I stopped club hopping and don’t drink anymore since I lived here. Now I’m confused, was it really ghosts or was it mbak mbak pelacur, perempuan berjilbab putih, bocah botak pengemis that I mistakenly took as ghosts while I was wearing my beer goggles?

In any case, you guys can bet on MUI NEVER issuing a fatwa against something they should (like corruption, intolerance against people of different beliefs, degradation of women, discrimination against homosexuals, stealing, cheating etc) and instead they will continue the long held tradition of focusing on superstition, sekitar selangkangan (crotch area) which they will eventually blame on women. Why? because we are LOS DIABLOS yet they’d like to have as many of us as possible. Very confusing and pathetic, methinks.
diego Says:
August 25th, 2009 at 1:01 am
Seriously, all these events that took place in indonesia make we wonder:

What is so difficult about making more people stop believing in religions, and start questioning / being skeptics? I don’t remember it took me anything special to become skeptic, so I guess this should happen to anyone without any difficulties. So why are we still in this situation?
Janma Says:
August 25th, 2009 at 11:59 am
What is so difficult about making more people stop believing in religions, and start questioning / being skeptics?

I used to think about that all the time too Diego…. but now I just think, let ‘em believe what they want to believe.
Easy. I’m at peace.