Spirit Possession, Javanese Magic and Islam: Current State of Affairs
Spirit Possession, Javanese Magic and Islam: Current State of Affairs

Summary/Abstract: When religious affairs in Indonesia (casually glossed as a country with the largest Muslim population) grab international attention that mostly comes down to Islam and attempts of further Islamisation of the Archipelago. However, local forms of syncretic and pre-Islamic mysticism, magic and spirit beliefs persist and their adherents keep fighting for recognition on the state level (as Indonesian freedom of religion is limited to the choice between several state-recognised confessions). The objective of this paper is to discuss how pre-Islamic beliefs exist and persist among the Javanese (the largest ethnic group in both Indonesia and entire Southeast Asia), along side with Islam and despite the advances of modernity. A more detailed outlook on the contestation and resistance is meant to be based on the example of traditional dance known as jathilan or kuda kepang. Trance (believed to be caused by the spirits possessing the dancers’ bodies) constitutes the main attraction of the performance which is commonly held on various celebratory occasions (marriages, circumcisions, village festivities and even national holidays). During the past two decades, it has been enjoying an ever-growing popularity and nowadays most of the shows are advertised via social media. The resilience of the trance dance is meant to be analysed by super imposing its own specific features against the background of the national religious and cultural policies., and their adherents keep fighting for recognition on the state level (as Indonesian freedom of religion is limited to

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