ECO-THEOLOGY: AIGA – THE HOUSEHOLD OF LIFE A PERSPECTIVE FROM LIVING MYTHS AND TRADITIONS OF SAMOA Ama’amalele Tofaeono ECO-THEOLOGY: AIGA – THE HOUSEHOLD OF LIFE A PERSPECTIVE FROM LIVING MYTHS AND TRADITIONS OF SAMOA World Mission Script 7 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or stored in a retrieval system, or trans- mitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior permission of the Erlanger Verlag für Mission und Ökumene. Die Deutsche Bibliothek – CIP-Einheitsaufnahme Tofaeono, Ama’amalele: Eco-theology: Aiga – the household of life : a perspective from living myths and traditions of Samoa / by Ama’amalele Tofaeono. – Erlangen : Erlanger Verl. für Mission und Ökumene, 2000 (World Mission Script ; 7) Zugl.: Neuendettelsau, Augustana-Hochsch., Diss., 2000 ISBN 3-87214-327-1 © 2000 Erlanger Verlag für Mission und Ökumene, Erlangen Layout: Andreas-Martin Selignow – www.selignow.de Printed by Freimund-Druckerei, Neuendettelsau CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................................ 11 0. GENERAL INTRODUCTION ......................................................................... 13 0.1. Identification and Exposition of the Eco-Theological Problem ....................... 13 0.2. A Jewish Perspective .............................................................................................. 15 0.3. Thesis Statements .................................................................................................... 18 0.4. Aim of the Dissertation .......................................................................................... 19 0.5. Scope of the Research ............................................................................................. 20 0.6. Approach of the Theological Construction ......................................................... 21 0.7. Research Method ..................................................................................................... 22 0.8. Definitions of Concepts .......................................................................................... 22 0.8.1. Tala o le Vavau – Myths ................................................................................................... 22 0.8.2. Tala Tuu – Oral Traditions ................................................................................................ 24 0.8.3. Religio-Cultural Heritage ................................................................................................. 24 0.8.3.1. Tapua’iga – Religion ....................................................................................................... 25 0.8.3.2. Religion in Universal Theories .......................................................................................... 26 0.8.3.3. Aganu’u – Culture .......................................................................................................... 28 0.8.3.4. Culture in Universal Theories ........................................................................................... 28 0.8.3.5. Religio-Cultural Lifeway ................................................................................................. 29 0.8.4. Aiga: An Eco-Religio-Cultural Metaphor ............................................................................ 30 0.8.5. Aiga: Eco-Theological Symbolisms ................................................................................... 32 0.8.6. Embodiment – Aiga in Imagery Terms ............................................................................... 33 1. THE THREATENED HOUSE – OIKOS ...................................................... 35 1.1. The Ecological Crisis .............................................................................................. 35 1.1.1. A Global Reality ............................................................................................................. 35 1.1.2. The Endangered and Broken Eco-Systems .......................................................................... 38 1.1.3. Global Warming ............................................................................................................. 38 1.1.4. Climate Change and Rising Sea-Level ................................................................................ 39 1.1.5. Globalized Centre-Periphery Model ................................................................................... 42 1.2. Samoa (Oceania) – A Double-Context of Eco-Dangers .................................... 44 1.2.1. A Defenseless Context ..................................................................................................... 44 1.2.1.1. Land and Human Resources ............................................................................................. 45 1.2.1.1.1. Population Mobility ........................................................................................................ 45 1.2.1.1.2. Agriculture .................................................................................................................... 46 1.2.1.1.3. Deforestation ................................................................................................................. 48 1.2.1.1.4. Mining .......................................................................................................................... 49 1.2.1.2. Pollution of Ocean/Sea Resources ...................................................................................... 50 1.2.1.2.1. Marine Pollution ............................................................................................................. 50 1.2.1.2.2. Fishing .......................................................................................................................... 51 1.3. Technological Age and Its Effects ........................................................................ 52 1.3.1. Nuclear Technology: Case Studies ..................................................................................... 52 1.3.1.1. U.S. Nuclear Testings: Bikini and Johnston Atolls ................................................................ 53 1.3.1.2. British Nuclear Testing: Monte Bello, Maralinga, and Christmas Island ................................... 55 1.3.1.3. French Nuclear Testings: Moruroa and Fangataufa Atolls ...................................................... 56 1.4. Summary ................................................................................................................... 58 5 2. ECOLOGY AND RELIGIO-CULTURAL TRANSITIONS .................. 60 2.1. Virginity of Samoa and Some Ecological Portraits ............................................ 60 2.1.1. The Historic-Geographical Setting ..................................................................................... 60 2.1.2. Observations of the Samoans ............................................................................................ 62 2.1.3. Socio-Political Organisation and Settlements ....................................................................... 63 2.1.4. Economy, Early Exchanges and Trade ................................................................................ 64 2.2. Samoan Perceptions and Myths of Papalagi ....................................................... 66 2.2.1. The Power of the God of the Papalagi ................................................................................. 67 2.2.2. Deficiencies of the God of the Papalagi ............................................................................... 68 2.3. New Religious Convictions and Changing Worldviews .................................... 70 2.3.1. The Samoan Warrior Cult ................................................................................................. 71 2.3.2. Runaway Sailors’ Cult ..................................................................................................... 73 2.3.2.1. Theological Teachings ..................................................................................................... 74 2.3.2.1.1. The Understanding of God ............................................................................................... 74 2.3.2.1.2. Sacraments of Baptism and the Holy Communion ................................................................ 75 2.3.2.1.3. Creation and Salvation ..................................................................................................... 76 2.3.3. Siovili or the Joe Gimblet Cult .......................................................................................... 77 2.3.3.1. Theological Formulations ................................................................................................. 79 2.3.3.1.1. Understanding of the Godhead .......................................................................................... 79 2.3.3.1.2. Eschatological Perspective ............................................................................................... 80 2.3.3.1.3. Creation and Salvation ..................................................................................................... 81 2.4. Arrival of the New Lotu ......................................................................................... 81 2.4.1. Decision of LMS Mission Fields ....................................................................................... 83 2.4.1.1. John Williams and the LMS Mission to Samoa ...................................................................