RELIGION

Despite the strength of traditonal beliefs, the Christian Church of Toraja is a very active force. Physical isolation and the lack of a written language resulted in a considerable variations in beliefs, customs and mythology, athough the ancestor cult has always been very strong. Prior to the arrival of Christianity, the Toraja believed in many gods, but worshipped one in particular as the special god of their family, clan or tribe.   The Toraja have a long and involved creation mythology dividing creation into three worlds, each watched over by its own god. The Sa'dan Toraja also had a rigid caste system and slave class. Although the Dutch abolished slavery, its effect continued long after. There is also a class of nobles which continues to be important. Christianity undermined some traditional Toraja beliefs, but the ceremonies are still a vital part of life.   Although it is one of the five pillars of the Pancasila that every Indonesian must believe in one god, the Toraja gained official sanction to maintain their polytheistic beliefs, possibly due to the tenuous argument that the Toraja beliefs were similar to those of the Balinese for whom an exception had already been made.