Balatos -- swords with balls

[Bill M]

Originally Posted by VANDOO

VERY NICE SWORDS BILL!!
IT LOOKS LIKE THERE ARE NOT TOO MANY BOARS TUSKS MISSING PERHAPS JUST PUTTING THOSE THAT ARE THERE BACK IN PLACE AND PERHAPS TIGHTENING THEM DOWN A BIT MIGHT COME CLOSE TO FIXING IT. IT LOOKS LIKE SOMEONE OPENED IT UP TO TAKE OUT THE MEDICINE PACKET IN THE CENTER BEFORE SELLING IT. WHAT SORT OF RELIGION OR BELIEFS DO THEY HAVE ON NIAS IT CAN'T BE ISLAM AS IT WOULD SURLY FORBID HAVEING ANYTHING TO DO WITH PIGS.

Indonesian Islamic religion is very different from the middle east, especially Iraq and Iran. It is a thin veneer over the old animistic culture.

Islam is practiced and its laws enforced very differently in different cultures. The middle east version seems the most restrictive and severe,but, as is usual with religion, each culture feels its version is the correct one.

Can you imagine the Javanese with their emphasis on magic, offerings to various entities, existing in Iraq?