Religion and Theology

For the last century, evolutionary anthropologist held that a primitives mind equipment is diverse from that of a civilized man. Since then, different arguments concerning the view that the civilized mind is logical, scientific, and abstract, while feral mind is prelogical, superstitious, and concrete. We must not take this seriously.

The primitive minds lack of knowledge in their worldview does not prove that they are intellectually incapable in reasoning and in perception of things. In some Ethnograpic instance, Furer-Haimendorf (1962) described a Konyak Naga man is not a primitive who lives in the mortal fear of unknown-when an eatrhquake struck its village, in fact, their worldview is simple, Konyak Nagas ideas on nature are derived from logical deduction. Another is Mawries (1981) self interpretation of Khasi religion. A Khasi family having problems financially believes that such events have a cause-displeasing the spirits.
 
Studies of different tribal groups like the Tharu (Srivastava 1958) and the Khasa (Majumdar 1962), two central Himalayan tribes in North India are good eample of Hinduised tribes. Practicing the beliefs of Hindus concepts of Karma, and observing Hindu rituals, they have adopted the local beliefs of Hindus. Hindu gods and deities are worshipped.

Though there are different principles, there are also similar  and common facts about tribal religions. It is common in almost all tribal traditions to worship nature. Such celestial bodies like the earth, the lakes, oceans, mountain, some kinds of animals are being praised and glorified.Christians  have embraced monotheistic religion (cited in Mao, Tribal Philosophy Concepts, Issues and Methods It had a great impact in the tribal religion). The tribals gave a model of westernization and in some cases, festivals were reinterpreted in term of Christianized myths. Some previously separated tribal groups accepted marital relations acrosstribal boundaries.

Indeed, there are many beliefs and views that exist which describe the roots of tribal religion. Cultural contact seemed to be a factor in creating these religions. Some of the non-tribal groups were affected by tribal customs and practices. Understanding ones religion is important in studying a particular tribal life and society. The function of religion in tribal society is refelected in their common goals and objectives.