The “Cargo Cults” of the South Pacific (1942 to now)

During WW2, both the Japanese and the Americans air-dropped and air-delivered vast amounts of military equipment and supplies to islands in the South Pacific.  Manufactured clothing, medicine, canned food, tents, weapons, and other goods arrived in vast quantities for the soldiers, who often shared some of it with the islanders who were their guides and hosts.

With the end of the war, the military abandoned the airbases and stopped dropping cargo. In response, charismatic “Big Man” islander leaders developed “Cargo Cults.” The cult leaders explained that the cargo would be gifts from their ancestors, or from mythical, powerful Americans. It is not at all clear if the Big Man leaders were sincere or were simply running scams on gullible populations.

  A South Pacific Island Girl wearing homemade “Radar Machines” tied over her Eyes.

On the island of Tanna, in Vanuatu, islanders were persuaded that a mythical individual named “John Frum” or “Tom Navy” would deliver the goods. The “John Frum Cult” is the most widely known and longest-lived cargo cult.

In attempts to get cargo to fall by parachute or land in planes or ships again, islanders mimicked the day-to-day activities and dress styles of US soldiers, such as performing parade ground drills with wooden or salvaged rifles. They carved headphones from wood and wore them while sitting in fabricated control towers. Many built life-size replicas of airplanes out of straw and cut new military-style landing strips out of the jungle, hoping to attract more airplanes.

Cults spin and sell fantasies to their gullible followers.  But religions of all sizes also sell myths and miracle stories to their followers. The magical arrival of Cargo by Air for people who build “control towers” is a lot like the promise of Heaven after death for people who confess sins, atone, say prayers, and make offerings — it is a Shortcoming.  

For snapshot descriptions of other Modern Cults, go to:
continuingcreation.org/modern-cults-unusual-spiritual-paths/

— J.X. Mason