Tsenglap Beliefs
Religious Beliefs of the Tsenglaps
Religion is a system of beliefs and practices that have been followed from generation to generation. People all over the world have one form of religion of another. All religions believe in some kind of supernatural power that control and decide human destiny. Like all other religious beliefs from different societies, the Tsenglap Tribe do not have an organised religion, however, our ancestors did believe that when humans die, they enter into another spiritual realm. Our ancestors were believers of the dead. They believed that the dead enter into a spiritual world. During emergencies and tribal warfare, the elderly men of the clan will go to the cemetary and call up the dead.
The calling up of the dead was pratical inside the Tsenglap. The Tsenglaps did not know about the existence of the God of the Bible. However, they did have some kind of ethical and moral values which guided them for generations. These moral values became like guiding principals which really benefited those who followed them. Some of the moral values which the Tsenglaps up holded and practised, also go in line with the Word of God in the Bible. Although they did not know about God of the Bible and the Ten Commandments, they did followed some basic principals by instinct. Some of the principals they followed are as follows: They knew by instinct that it was wrong to take your clansman's wife or envy your brother's wife; It was wrong to steal someone else's property; It was wrong to kill someone during peace time.
In the course of history, it was discovered that, people who upholded these guiding principals enjoyed long life and prosperity. It was common knowledge that during the tribal wars, those who got killed were mostly common wrong doers. It was found out that if one was a righteous man, he will stand his ground and destroy so many enemies. There were also socerers living among the citizens of the Tsenglaps. Those who practised socery did not live long either, they were the first to be killed in war. These guiding principals were only applied within the Tsenglap Territory. When it came to dealing with the enemies, a different principal applied. It was said that you can do anything to the enemy. You can steal, kill and destroy, steal someone's wife, as long as he is from the enemy tribe.
During the tribal wars, the women and children lived apart from the men. It was forbidden for men to go and stay with a women during war. The women will cook the food and bring to the men on the battle field, and then, come away. The men will normally stay on the battle field and retire in the men house. Every time, when the Tsenglaps killed someone from the enemy tribe, they will come back home and kill a pig that same evening, as an act of atonement.