The theological doctrine of metaphysical anthropology through the view of ‘the dream society’ for the Balinese Ngaben death ritual

Daniel Fajar Panuntun (Institut Agama Kristen Negeri Toraja, Sulawesi Selatan)
Sumiati Putri Natalia (Institut Agama Kristen Negeri Toraja, Sulawesi Selatan)
Hengki Pindan Pute (Institut Agama Kristen Negeri Toraja, Sulawesi Selatan)

Kurios
Vol. 12 No. 2: August 2026

What Christian perspective can support preserving Balinese traditional practices related to honoring the deceased? This paper integrates the metaphysical anthropology of the sleeping soul with Rolf Jensen's view of ‘the dream society’ to examine the traditional ritual of Ngaben. The study revealed that the narratives within the Ngaben ceremonial tradition are of utmost importance and should be safeguarded. The narratives, affective experiences, and emotional states discussed are integral components of the communal fabric within which the Balinese populace resides. Christianity, through the theological doctrine of metaphysical anthropology of the sleeping soul, can help accommodate these narratives.