NationStates Jolt Archive

I first read about John Frum, a "cargo cult" religion in Vanuatu (specifically, Tanna island), in books, but I've just found a good article about it.

"Cargo cults" in Melanesia were (and in John Frum's case, still is) religious movements which believe that, through specific behaviour, often involving a return to traditional custom (kastom), Melanesian people will gain access to the material wealth of white people.

John Frum was a cargo cult which was heavily influenced by the presence of American soldiers in Vanuatu during World War Two. Later, John Frum followers even built makeshift landing strips and "airports" out of bamboo to incite American planes to return and bring them "cargo".

Unlike many cargo cults, John Frum still exists today. Every year, on February 15th, is John Frum Day, involving a military-style parade in which people march around wearing ritual paint on their face, carrying twigs as symbolic rifles, and wearing t-shirts with "T-A USA" on them ("Tanna Army USA").

Vanuatu is (in my view) one of the most fascinating countries in the world in terms of its history and culture. (I can recommend a very good book to you in French about it.) One of the national languages is Bislama, a pijin English language (similar to Tok Pisin in Papua New Guinea).

Anyway, this article (http://www.smithsonianmagazine.com/issues/2006/february/john.php?page=1) is all about John Frum, and it's absolutely fascinating. It's fairly long (5 pages), but I strongly recommend you read it.


As we look down into John Frum’s fiery Tanna home, I remind him that not only does he not have an outboard motor from America, but that all the devotees’ other prayers have been, so far, in vain. “John promised you much cargo more than 60 years ago, and none has come,” I point out. “So why do you keep faith with him? Why do you still believe in him?”

Chief Isaac shoots me an amused look. “You Christians have been waiting 2,000 years for Jesus to return to earth,” he says, “and you haven’t given up hope.”


http://www.smithsonianmagazine.com/issues/2006/february/john.php?page=1

Together with that article, this (http://www.smithsonianmagazine.com/issues/2006/february/john.php?page=popup&image=2) rather amazing picture.

It's a picture of the ceremonial raising of the US flag (& others) on John Frum Day.

France ruled over the former New Hebrides together with the UK (the world's only colonial Condominium, to my knowledge), and the John Frum movement opposed the British-backed Vanua'aku Pati (for various reasons), which made them sympathetic to French colonial eyes. Which probably explains the raising of a French flag alongside the American one (and the absence of a British one).

The third flag from the left is difficult to make out, but it might be the national ni-Vanuatu flag - although that would be a little surprising coming from John Frum, unless they've reconciled themselves with the national government.

The fourth flag is the Australian Aboriginal one. Apparently as a gesture of support and admiration towards Aboriginals' struggles in Australia.

Sociologically very fascinating.

I, for one, think we should fly planes over a paradrop all sorts of random crap onto the island. Perhaps a crate filled with rubber ducks, a crate filled with printer cartridges, a crate filled with Harman/Kardon Computer speakers from 1999, paperclips and celery.

I'd really want to see what would happen then. Would the John Frum Apocalypse be nigh?

Sociologically very fascinating.


Indeed.


I, for one, think we should fly planes over a paradrop all sorts of random crap onto the island. Perhaps a crate filled with rubber ducks, a crate filled with printer cartridges, a crate filled with Harman/Kardon Computer speakers from 1999, paperclips and celery.

I'd really want to see what would happen then. Would the John Frum Apocalypse be nigh?

I'd be extremely interested to see what they think of the rubber ducks and printer cartridges, but it would be very cruel to muck up a religion they've kept going for six decades. ;)

I'd be extremely interested to see what they think of the rubber ducks and printer cartridges, but it would be very cruel to muck up a religion they've kept going for six decades. ;)

I dunno, this would be, like, a ritual fulfillment of their prophecies. And we are rarely faced with incidents where we can actually control factors in a religion, to study how religion sociologically operates.

It's horrendously unethical, I admit, but I can have my academic fantasies, can't I?

It's just so fascinating, so very fascinating.

dont They also have A cult of Prince Philip

I dunno, this would be, like, a ritual fulfillment of their prophecies. And we are rarely faced with incidents where we can actually control factors in a religion, to study how religion sociologically operates.

It's horrendously unethical, I admit, but I can have my academic fantasies, can't I?

It's just so fascinating, so very fascinating.

Oh, I agree. It would be very interesting to see how it would affect their beliefs, but it would be extremely unethical.


dont They also have A cult of Prince Philip

Apparently. See here (http://enzo.gen.nz/jonfrum/gloss.html#prince) and here (http://www.vancourier.com/issues06/033206/travel.html). I've just taken a brief glance; I'll look into it more in a few minutes.

Hey Bush, I think I just found some additional troops for you!

the centre of the jon frum cargo cult today is based in the village at sulphur bay, [also called ipeukel.] the jon frum church here houses the movement's most sacred red cross. on friday evenings, jon frum supporters come from the nearby villages to dance. every year on the 15th of february, jon frum day is celebrated. This is the day when the sulphur bay people believe that jon frum will return, bringing with him all the cargo he has promised. prayers and flowers are offered at the red cross in the village church. this is followed by a flag-raising ceremony and a military parade. villagers carry rifles made of bamboo, painted to appear as if they have red bayonets.

about 100 men march under the command of two village elders dressed as us army sergeants. The soldiers have the letters "usa" painted in red on their bodies. These soldiers consider themselves to be members of the tannese army, a special unit of the american armed forces.

Extremely fascinating and not that far-fetched once you think about it. Remember how Cortez and the conquistadors were greeted by the Aztecs?

High enough technology, when introduced to a low tech culture, seems like magic, is the axiom of the day here.

Hey Bush, I think I just found some additional troops for you!


this is followed by a flag-raising ceremony and a military parade. villagers carry rifles made of bamboo, painted to appear as if they have red bayonets.

about 100 men march under the command of two village elders dressed as us army sergeants. The soldiers have the letters "usa" painted in red on their bodies. These soldiers consider themselves to be members of the tannese army, a special unit of the american armed forces.


I'm not sure what they'd think about being deployed to Iraq, though...

yeah, really interesting subject... the world is a really really diverse place

dont They also have A cult of Prince Philip

I've found another article about that, in a ni-Vanuatu online newspaper:

http://www.vanuatudaily.com/news/currentweek.php?subaction=showfull&id=1156368149&archive=&start_from=&ucat=8&

Cargo cults, especially John Frum, are some of the coolest things in the world.

Also, anyone who worships the Duke of Edinburgh deserves our admiration, because he is a great man.

I'm not sure what they'd think about being deployed to Iraq, though...

An M-16, kevlar helmet, interceptor armor, and grenades are some neat cargo though. I think they'd be thrilled.

I dunno, this would be, like, a ritual fulfillment of their prophecies. And we are rarely faced with incidents where we can actually control factors in a religion, to study how religion sociologically operates.

It's horrendously unethical, I admit, but I can have my academic fantasies, can't I?

It's just so fascinating, so very fascinating.

Is it unethical? They want to get stuff, we want to see how religion evolves. All parties involved benefit. I'm pretty sure that meets ethical guidelines.

Cargo cults, especially John Frum, are some of the coolest things in the world.

Also, anyone who worships the Duke of Edinburgh deserves our admiration, because he is a great man.

How so? Last time I checked he was a racist old toff.

Is it unethical? They want to get stuff, we want to see how religion evolves. All parties involved benefit. I'm pretty sure that meets ethical guidelines.

especially if we, the givers, do not actively try to do anything other than arrive as "emissaries from america" bearing much cargo. so no declarations of godhood or the like from our end.

How so? Last time I checked he was a racist old toff.

He takes no shit from anyone, and is probably the most dignified person living.

"If it has four legs and is not a chair, has wings and is not an aeroplane, or swims and is not a submarine, the Cantonese will eat it."

To a British student in Papua New Guinea: "You managed not to get eaten then?"

To the President of Nigeria, who was dressed in traditional African robes, "You look like you're ready for bed!"

There is no one else in the world I would more like to drink and go hunting with.

ETA:

Seeing that little cargo chief come into the Duke's palace to meet him, while Jerusalem played in the background, would bring a tear to my eye. Not often one gets to see such a sublime display. Like watching a christian meet jesus.

And, by sheer coincidence, the BBC has an article today on the John Frum movement's 50th anniversary.

The article is extremely basic compared to the more developed article I linked to from the OP, but if you just want the bare bones...


The cult was reinforced during WWII, when US forces landed with huge amounts of cargo - weapons, food and medicine.

Villagers believe the spirit of John Frum sent the US military to their South Pacific home to help them.

Devotees say that an apparition of John Frum first appeared before tribal elders in the 1930s.

He urged them to rebel against the aggressive teachings of Christian missionaries and instead said they should put their faith in their own customs.

[...]

Islanders are convinced that John Frum was an American. Every year they parade in home-made US army uniforms beneath the Stars and Stripes.

They hope one day to entice another delivery of cargo.


Article here (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6363843.stm).

How about a cult that recruits by Message board?

That's bizarre... And sad.

Wow. It's like Chariots of the Gods in microcosm.

I remember reading about this a few years back.. very interesting. I also say we ought to drop some aid on them, although it might be considered disrespectful.. the comic value of it, though, whould be worth it. :)

Wow. It's like Chariots of the Gods in microcosm.

fewer space aliens

Yeah, i've read about this before. Hmm.

Maybe I should convert. That'd be interesting. :P

Yeah, i've read about this before. Hmm.

Maybe I should convert. That'd be interesting. :P

i'm pretty sure that one day john frum will come from america bringing much cargo to his people here in idaho

i'm pretty sure that one day john frum will come from america bringing much cargo to his people here in idaho

"Pretty sure"?

Heathen!

"Pretty sure"?

Heathen!

well, it's the idaho part that makes it iffy. to the best of my knowledge, john frum has never appeared here to offer the people salvation and cargo. we still live in ignorance like the missionaries taught, and have no sea to throw our money into. but i have been convincing the people to drink the kava.

fewer space aliens

And less blatant Lovecraft rip-offs. Seriously, that's where Von Daniken got his ideas, he read a translation of one of Lovecraft's stories.

but i have been convincing the people to drink the kava.

You have kava in Idaho?

I remeber seeing a picture of one of their air strips. It was covered in palm leavs and they had even built a controll tower from bamboo. It was...odd.

I remeber seeing a picture of one of their air strips. It was covered in palm leavs and they had even built a controll tower from bamboo. It was...odd.

But perfectly logical from their perspective. That's what makes it so fascinating.

I SO wish I had a cargo plane.


I'd drop them a couple thousand mail order catalogues.

I SO wish I had a cargo plane.


I'd drop them a couple thousand mail order catalogues.

Pffft, I'd send them porn.

Pffft, I'd send them porn.

I was thinking of that - but I reckon mail order catalogues would gel with their religion in such an evil way...

They'd think it was either a wish list they could ask from or a list of stuff that's headed their way....

False hope - awesome.

This is upsetting me in a way that I wish I had never heard about it.

Not unlike Noel Edmond's favourite new age bullshit religion

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmic_Ordering

This is upsetting me in a way that I wish I had never heard about it.

How so?

Not unlike Noel Edmond's favourite new age bullshit religion


Completely different.

John Frum (and other cargo cult movents in Melanesia) was born within a very specific context, as Melanesians (in Vanuatu and elsewhere) tried to rationalise all the novelties coming in from the outside world. White people had cargo, whereas they (Melanesians) did not. There had to be a reason for that - and, just as importantly, there had to be a way Melanesians could access that cargo too. Cargo cults (like any genuine religion) appeared as an attempt to understand perplexing (and, in this case, new) aspects of the world.

What's interesting is the effect the US presence had in the Pacific during World War 2. In Tanna, it had the specific effect of boosting John Frum.

How so?


I find it sad.

But perfectly logical from their perspective. That's what makes it so fascinating.

About as logical as believing in ufos or thinking evil smells cause diseases, or any one of a thousand ridiculous belief people have come up with over the years.

Very interesting though.

About as logical as believing in ufos or thinking evil smells cause diseases, or any one of a thousand ridiculous belief people have come up with over the years.

Very interesting though.

You're gonna laugh, but when I was maybe, oh, about 11, for a day or two I thought that this really foul smelling plant caused my sister to be afflicted with appendicitis and ruin the family vacation.

You have kava in Idaho?

You can buy it in health food stores. I once took a few grams of powdered Kava. Made me feel like I was on a couple of Xanax, but caused some significant nausea.

You can buy it in health food stores. I once took a few grams of powdered Kava. Made me feel like I was on a couple of Xanax, but caused some significant nausea.

Interesting. Thanks.

Have you got Pacific Islander communities in Idaho or something?

Interesting. Thanks.

Have you got Pacific Islander communities in Idaho or something?

I'm not in Idaho. I'm in New Jersey, but it's sold in health food stores nationwide.

Have you got Pacific Islander communities in Idaho or something?

not to any significant extent, no. i'm just bitter that i wound up in idaho rather than hawai'i.

BBC pictures here (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/6371787.stm).

I dunno, this would be, like, a ritual fulfillment of their prophecies. And we are rarely faced with incidents where we can actually control factors in a religion, to study how religion sociologically operates.

It's horrendously unethical, I admit, but I can have my academic fantasies, can't I?

It's just so fascinating, so very fascinating.

I gotta agree with you there, man.