Batak Traditions and Christian

Batak Carving: Ulu Paung (Foto, 2004)

Tradition and culture of Batak (Toba Batak) is still preserved in the midst of society today, and the most prominent, for example, when conducting marriage ceremonies. Unlike the indigenous tribe of Traditional Batak (Batak Kuno) or pre-Christian, there are adjustments and inkulturisasi culture since the missionaries spread Christianity in the middle of Batak Tribe. If the Toba Batak traditional beliefs, traditional wedding ceremony is performed with prayer (tonggo) led by Malim is also a Datu, now a part of customary  adapted  according to the system of worship and the teachings of Christianity. Tonggo become tangiang and function Datu Malim and was replaced by Christian priest.

The influence of Christian religious teachings against indigenous Batak actually a compromise, a traditional Batak new version, and this is well preserved. On the one hand, holding onto the Batak ethnic group that believes religion but by maintaining the basic essence of the customs and beliefs that have been passed down by ancestors. Johannes Warneck stressed that the church and the church was built as far as possible based on other forms of civic and social. The missioners on one side of the mean for traditional Batak tradition according to which infidel, must be abandoned, but the culture of Ancient Batak also be recorded and saved by the missionaries.  The problem is how to preserve the tradition as part of religious life do not conflict with Christianity.