A cargo cult vs christianity

15 December 2008

The description of the John Frum cargo cult was taken from this BBC News article, Cargo cult lives on in South Pacific.

John Frum cargo cult	Christianity
Believers are convinced that John Frum was an American.	Believers are convinced that Jesus was a dying/rising man-god.
Devotees say that the ghost of a mystical white man first appeared before tribal elders in the 1930s.	Devotees say that the resurrected form of their dying/rising man-god first appeared before followers shortly after his supposed death, circa 33 CE.
It urged them to rebel against the aggressive teachings of Christian missionaries and the influence of Vanuatu’s British and French colonial masters.	It urged them to rebel against the aggressive teachings of Judaism and the influence of Roman colonial masters.
The apparition told villagers to do all they could to retain their own traditions.	The apparition told villagers to do all they could to spread a variation of Judaism.
World War II and the arrival of US troops on Vanuatu was a defining time for the movement. They had a name for their spiritual deity. He was John Frum.	The death and resurrection of the man-god was a defining time for the movement. They had a name for their spiritual deity. He was Jesus.
Villagers believe that their messiah was responsible for delivering to them the munificence of the US military.	Villagers believe that their messiah was responsible for delivering to them the problems inherited from the first man and woman on the planet because they ate a fruit.
They were awestruck by the army’s cargo of tanks, weapons, refrigerators, food and medicine.	They were awestruck by the man-godâ€™s supplying of bread and fish. And turning water into wine.
John Frum day is held annually on 15 February. This year’s celebration marks the 50th anniversary of the sect’s formal establishment.	Jesus day is held annually on 25 December. This year’s celebration marks the 2008th anniversary of the sect’s man-godâ€™s birth.
It also recognises the day when villagers raised the US flag for the first time.	It also recognises the day when the man-god died for the first time.
Through this homage to the US, disciples hope their ethereal saviour can be encouraged to return.	Through varied and contradictory forms of homage to the man-god, disciples hope their ethereal saviour can be encouraged to return.
Many followers of John Frum believe his spirit lives deep within the volcano.	Many followers of Jesus believe he actually lives in a place they call â€œHeavenâ€.
About 20% of Tanna’s population of 30,000 follow the teachings of one of the world’s last remaining cargo cults.	About 20-25% of the worldâ€™s population kind-of follow the teachings of one of the world’s largest cults.

The money quote:

“A Christian youth worker told me how he thought the cult was childish. “It’s like a baby playing games,” he insisted. “Those people are holding on to a dream that will never come true,” he said.

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Tags: Arkell v. Pressdram, BBC News, christianity, demotivation, hypocrisy, news, quote, WhiskyTangoFoxtrot

Comments

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6133 ResponsesA+cargo+cult+vs+christianity2008-12-15+18%3A44%3A18nullifidian to “A cargo cult vs christianity”

T_W on December 15th, 2008 10:26 am

Its quite ironic really – the John Frum Cargo Cultists actually had something real to base their belief on, but they are looked down upon by Christians…

I love the final quote!
Fredric L. Rice on December 18th, 2008 7:59 am

That's insane. The notoriously criminal Scientology corporation's fake "drug treatment" fraud they call "NarCONon" not only does not work, the freakishly bizarre quack medical frauds the insane kooks use that were dreamed up by their drug-addled conman messiah L. Ron Hubbard can be DEADLY.

Scientology's "NarCONon" fraud uses L. Ron Hubbard's freakish "Purification Rundown" noti0ons which include toxic levels of niacine and insane flying saucer kook reading, all of which is very debilitative and leaves drug and alcohol addicts not only still addicted but something near $20,000 in debt to the criminal enterprise.

http://www.crackpots.org/

Anyone stupid enough to give these insane criminals their money still does not deserve to have Scientology rook and swindle them with their "NarCONon" fraud.

But don't take my work for the criminal enterprise's word for anything. Do your own homework and look at the miracle claims made by the Scientology crooks, then look at what medical doctors and legitimate drug treatment organizations have to say.
BBC: Around the World in 80 Faiths : nullifidian on January 6th, 2009 12:33 pm

[...] least Jones acknowledges that there are at least some basic parallels between the beginnings of the cults surrounding the John Frum and Jesus characters, but he insists that the entire point of the John Frum cult was, and is, to eradicate christianity [...]