CAHAYA KRISTUS DALAM MITOLOGI BIAK MANARMAKERI: KAJIAN TEOLOGI KONTEKSTUAL TENTANG KRISTUS SEBAGAI TERANG SEJATI - Korwa, Amida Serlina (Excelsis Deo: Jurnal Teologi, Misiologi, dan Pendidikan, 2025)
Artikel ini mengkaji relasi antara Cahaya Kristus dan mitologi Manarmakeri dalam konteks teologi kontekstual Papua. Tujuan penelitian adalah menganalisis bagaimana simbol terang dalam mitologi Biak dapat didialogkan secara kritis dengan Kristologi Injil Yohanes yang menegaskan Kristus sebagai Terang Sejati. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode kualitatif dengan pendekatan deskriptif-analitis dan reflektif melalui kajian biblika, teologi kontekstual, serta literatur antropologi Papua. Hasil kajian menunjukkan bahwa mitologi Manarmakeri merepresentasikan kerinduan eksistensial masyarakat Biak akan pembebasan, pemulihan, dan terang kehidupan, yang dapat dipahami sebagai praeparatio evangelica. Namun demikian, simbol terang dalam mitologi tersebut tidak berdiri sejajar dengan wahyu Alkitab, melainkan menemukan penggenapan dan koreksinya dalam Kristus sebagai Terang Sejati. Kajian ini menegaskan pentingnya dialog inkarnasional yang kritis, kristosentris, dan bebas dari sinkretisme dalam pengembangan teologi kontekstual Papua. The findings indicate that light in the Manarmakeri mythology functions as a symbol of liberation from suffering, cosmic restoration, and hope for renewed life. Light is understood not merely in a physical sense, but also as a spiritual reality that provides direction, meaning, and purpose in life. In the Gospel of John, Christ is understood as the True Light who gives life, overcomes darkness, and reveals the presence of God in the midst of the world. The dialogue between these two understandings reveals points of symbolic convergence, despite fundamental theological differences. This study affirms that Christ cannot be equated with Manarmakeri; however, Christ may be understood as the fulfillment of the deepest meaning of the symbol of light that has long existed within Biak mythology. In this sense, the Manarmakeri mythology can be viewed as a praeparatio evangelica that opens a space for the contextualization of the Gospel. The novelty of this research lies in its integration of Biak local mythology with Johannine Christology, as well as its critique of missionary approaches that negate local culture. This study is expected to enrich Papuan contextual theology and to provide a pastoral foundation for the church in Biak in proclaiming the Gospel in a relevant and grounded manner. Keywords: Light of Christ, Manarmakeri, Contextual Theology, Biak, True Light.