Ritual and Resistance: A Critical Analysis of GMIT Women’s Spirituality through the Practice of Naketi, Nazar, and Fasting

Abstract

This study aims to develop the concept of ritual resilience theory to address the gap in understanding how local Christian rituals function as a mechanism for shaping the spiritual resilience of GMIT women in East Amanuban Classis, who face social issues such as premarital pregnancy, domestic violence, verbal abuse, and patriarchal cultural pressures that trigger trauma, identity crises, and spiritual vulnerability. The research used a qualitative, phenomenological approach, integrated with anthropological theology, sociology, and psychology. Data were collected through observation, in-depth interviews, and documentation involving ten informants (GMIT women, pastors, and community leaders). The findings indicate that the rituals of naketi, vow (nazar), and fasting play a significant role in shaping women’s spiritual resilience. Naketi provides space for reflection and emotional reconciliation; vows strengthen commitment and hope in life; and fasting cultivates self-control and mental endurance. These three rituals also enhance social solidarity, foster community acceptance, and build transcendent relationships with God through forgiveness, repentance, and surrender. However, the rituals exhibit ambivalence: within a patriarchal context, they can become an additional burden for women while simultaneously serving as a space for spiritual agency that enables them to rise from suffering. The study’s main contribution is the development of ritual resilience theory as a synthesis of local culture, Christian spirituality, and resilience theory, which can serve as a foundation for contextual theology, pastoral care, and women’s empowerment strategies in addressing social injustice.