Rola kosmosu i duchów w synkretycznych wierzeniach we wschodniej Indonezji na przykładzie Moluków oraz Moluków Północnych

This article deals with the role of the universe and the spirits in the religious syncretism at the Maluku and North Maluku. In the past, these provinces were under strong influence of colonialism; however, the power of primeval beliefs showed that the natives were strongly tied to their own traditions, from which they did not want to resign. Despite of conversions, animism is still practiced by the residents of Maluku, especially around impenetrable territories. Their image of the world put an emphasis on the role of stars and planets in the rituals because they regulated their cyclicality and played a major role in their myths about cosmology. On the other hand, the spirits represented the immaterial world. The aim of the article is to show the influence of the forces of nature and the incomprehensible phenomena which shaped religious syncretism in Eastern Indonesia.