WARNING: BEWARE OF TAGALOA TRADITION and “TAGALOAISM”.
“There is one source of truth that is complete, correct, and incorruptible. That source is our infinitely wise and all-knowing Heavenly Father [and Jesus Christ].” - Dieter F. Uchtdorf
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Tagaloa Tradition is a new and nascent movement under the guise of a church and/or religion. It uses Polynesian mythologies, legends and cultural traditions -- with notable Samoan focus and emphasis -- as the main part of its dogma and creed. It promotes, reveres and deifies the mythological god Tagaloa (Kanaloa, Tangaroa, etc. in other Polynesian versions) as its venerable deity.
Tagaloa Tradition employs anti-imperialist, anti-colonialist and other xenophobic sentiments, notably against those of White/European backgrounds and affinities, in an effort to justify and perpetrate its biases and prejudiced agenda. Racist, ethnocentric and anti-Bible undertones are also pervasive in its platform and beliefs. According to its leader, “Jesus Christ does not exist in [their] narrative.” Its mantra of “Indigenous Spirituality” and its interpretations are therefore anti-Christian, hence largely anti-organized religion. Moreover, Tagaloa Tradition is founded on what the apostle Paul warns Christ’s followers against: teaching of other doctrines, and giving heed to fables, legends, myths and endless genealogies (1 Timothy1:4). These are used by the movement as means of concocting a culture of exclusivity and preeminence, if not of being a special and privileged people. Polynesians and Samoans are special and unique (like all other children of God) albeit not in the context and interpretation Tagaloaism purports.
"...and [God] hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; that they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: for in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring." (Acts 17:26-28)
Because the core/nucleus of the movement seems to be exclusively Polynesian/Samoan-based and driven, most if not all of its adherents are, and will be, Samoans and likely other Polynesians. It's a clannish and tribal undertaking hence it reeks of racist and bigoted ambitions.
Many of the sources for their cliquish and esoteric knowledge are drawn from unconventional “scholarly” collections as well as from their indigenous impulses and whims whereby they religiously (pun intended) and promptly find symbolic and dubious meanings in the common and everyday cultural “stuff” and environment. Ironically, this is tried within an ever-changing and impermanent social paradigms. In the process, they strive to relitigate palagi atrocities - past and present. The movement, therefore, seems to appeal to those natives who harbor ill feelings about the effects and perceived exploits of colonialism, rationalizing such appeal with subtle nudges of feigned nationalism, feigned patriotism and feigned traditionalism.
Some of you may wonder why I’m writing this. Well, I have gradually become familiar with the “tenets” of the Tagaloa Tradition through my conversations, debates and exchanges with a few ardent followers, who, surprisingly, are also members (current and/or former?) of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. One of them, at least, is a former missionary.
And so this is where the efficacy of this post becomes relevant as a warning, specifically to my fellow Samoan Latter-day Saints and others to whom it may concern. As a native Samoan and especially as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I feel obligated to heed the biblical admonition that I am, and can/should be my brother’s keeper, and/or a watchman. Perhaps more importantly, is heeding this cogent admonition from the Doctrine and Covenants 88:81, that “it becometh every man who hath been warned to warn his neighbor”(...ma ua tatau i tagata taitoatasi o e ua uma ona lapataia ona lapatai atu i lē la te tuaoi). I hope then that this write-up is read and perused in this light and spirit.
If you will have a chance to converse with some of the followers of Tagaloa Tradition, their rote knowledge of a fabricated and tailored version of history -- sans Jesus Christ of course -- saturated with forced and invented symbolisms of cultural elements, like Samoan architecture, you think that there’s “method in their madness”. Be not deceived. These are those that Paul warned who shall come in the last days; who are “ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:7). These are those who are “on the earth among all sects, parties, and denominations, who are blinded by the subtle craftiness of men, whereby they lie in wait to deceive, and who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it.” (Doctrine and Covenants 123:12). Yes, “they know not where to find [the truth]”, hence their crafty endeavors.
The scriptures are also replete with references and warnings about the Tagaloa Tradition type of heresy and unorthodoxy. The apostle Paul refers to them as “wind of doctrine”, “sleight of men” and “cunning craftiness”. The truth is that Jesus Christ DID organize His church while in mortality, and called and ordained those who were to serve in the established offices (v.11). Christ not only organized His Church, He noted its objectives and missions (v.12-14):
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; (Ephesians 4)
Again verse 14 is compelling in that the Church, its doctrines and “the [pure] knowledge of the Son of God” help to keep us from being “tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness ...in wait to deceive.” Unabashedly, I declare that Tagaloa Tradition is a “sleight of men and cunning craftiness”. Unfortunately, some of our Latter-day Saint brothers and sisters have already been deceived by this new “priestcraft”. Let’s pray for them and hope that they’ll find their way back.
Still another more fitting prophecy by the apostle Paul on the issue:
"For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths." (2 Timothy 4:3-4 ESV)
Having said all that, please do not get me wrong. I do love and treasure my Samoan roots and heritage with many of its virtuous and noble traditions. Legends and myths have their rightful places. I am also impressed and grateful for Samoa's art of oratory, family and aiga emphasis and relationships. The faaaloalo (respect) and alofa (love) as pillars of the Faa-Samoa. But all these good, virtuous and praiseworthy values, principles and morals ultimately trace their origins back to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. “All things which are good cometh of God” (Moroni 7:12). The Light of Christ is the “mana” that helped our ancestors navigate, brave and traverse the oceans and settled the “isles of the sea”.
“That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.” (John 1:9)
“And that I am the true Light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world.” (Doctrine and Covenants 93:2)
“I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness.” (John 8:12)
As Latter-day Saints we have this Light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in our lives. We shall walk no more in darkness.
Please share if you care.
Faafetai Tele.
DISCLAIMER: The above is an opinion piece and writeup by the author and does not in any way, stated or implied, purports to reflect or represent any official beliefs or teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
