Cargo cult

The Cargo Cult of the South Pacific is a religion in the indigenous people in the islands of South Pacific that has developed after World War II. When the Americans and Japanese were exposed to the people of the South Pacific, the natives thought that the cargoes brought by their military forces were coming from certain deities. Out of this perception came forth the concept of the Cargo Cult. People thought that if they will just perform right ceremonies, riches (that are represented by the goods and supplies brought by the white people to their Islands) will be sent to them from Heaven.

The native of South Pacific Islands thought that the Americans and Europeans do not work but "God" ship them goods and supplies in due time just by writing on a piece paper while they are still very poor even though they are working very hard. The members of this cult erected replicas of airplanes and airports made of branches and twigs of trees and created sounds that are similar to sounds of airplanes in an effort to influence God to ship them cargoes of "good things."

Long before it was discovered, this cult is already developed. There were stories among the Island people that their “god ancestors” have travelled to the West and have promised them to return one day. The cargo cult members thought that the West is the land of the departed. Upon the arrival of the Dutch and Portuguese in the South Pacific, the islanders thought that they were what they expected as their ancestors that came from the land of the dead.

Aside from making replicas of airports and airplanes, Cargo cult members also build small huts in the jungles and leave money there in hope that the money will grow. They would also make replicas of money bags and brief cases. As expected, the money would be stolen by others leaving the members of the cult poorer than before. Authorities discourage the propagation of the Cargo cult as it promotes indolence among its members.

The name of the god of the Cargo Cult is John Fromm. It is not sure how they got this name but it is possible that this name is the name of an American Soldier who set foot in the South Pacific who identified himself to the islanders as John. Some business owners use this name in their products such as "John Fromm rice" to gain a big share of the market.