ABSTRACT
The area of the world called the “Pacific,” which means “peaceful” or “calm,” encompasses a large number of islands. Religion is important in all Pacific Island societies, with Christianity spread widely throughout Oceania. Self-identifying Christians constitute over 85 to 90 percent of the Pacific Islanders in New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau, American Samoa, Cook Islands, French Polynesia, and Niue. In early days of colonization by Europeans in the Pacific, one of the first aims of missions was to establish secure bases for proselytizing. Pacification by colonial governments had to come first. Legitimacy of action in Highlands Societies of Papua New Guinea depends on many circumstances, including basic ideas of individuality in relation to collectives, obligations to kin groups, adherence to religious and ritual belief systems, and the place of wealth used in compensation payments for violence enactments.
