Post #117652 by Formikahini on Sat, Oct 2, 2004 8:37 AM

*On 2004-10-02 01:51, cheekytiki wrote:*Something I still don't get, is it still seen as wrong to actually worship Tiki (in any form) especially if it's a part of your culture?
Hey, Cheekytiki-

Well, for one, I'm not sure that (m)any cultures today actually do worship their carved tiki statues. I think the closest they might come is having a statue representing a god whom they worship. The representation case has been the norm throughout history. (E.g., the golden calf that caused all the trouble with the Old Testament Isrealites was not being worshipped per se; it was the throne on which Baal sat.) I could be WAY off there about tiki though, admittedly knowing close-to-nothing about modern tribal worship in Polynesia.

Secondly, and importantly, I suspect that's where it branches into "discussing religion" (taboo on TC) versus "How do Christians who are into tiki feel about it? and "What do I say to my Christians friends/family who are shocked by my collection?" (which apparently are ok, as this thread has not yet been locked).

In other words, discussing here what or whom you choose to worship and why, I think, is going to get us into taboo territory. I'd be glad to make this an email discussion with you though, as I suspect many who have contributed here might as well.

Cheers!
alice b