The concept of a Supreme Being who created heaven and earth is known as INAN. Anthropological studies indicated that this concept existed in tarok civilization many years before the advent of Missionary activities in Tarok land. Therefore, knowledge of the existence of God was an integral component of tarok traditions, culture, morals, language and folklore. This belief has been with tarok traditional worship before the advent of western dis orientation of the value system. At every traditional worship point or libation, tarok will seek the favour of God by saying 're inan akam mmok ogan bin meaning, may God accept his prayers.
Also at traditional funeral rites of a departed one, tarok will advise the soul of the deceased by saying 'ga,ga asel vo pe fit te bi nna, anaro vo pe butbut te aga tar gbantar, meaning as you proceed follow the narrow way but the broad way ends in eternal disaster. When Christianity came tarok has no difficulty in welcoming the missionaries after Karl Kumn and his team were chased out of Wase and the first Church building was burnt down in 1907. As a result they relocated to Langtang. While welcoming the Missionaries Ponzhin Mbin admitted the God of the missionaries is strange and who knows what it has for the future of his people, therefore he accommodated them by even surrendering shrine and house for the establishment of the new religion. The first church building and the missionary compound were constructed by the traditionalists because when the missionaries arrived there were no Christians.
There was cordial understanding between the two faiths with Ponzhi Nbin routing his request through ancestors while the Missionaries and Christians through Christ. Interestingly, the Missionaries respected traditional practices and were willing to assist Ponzhi Nbin during nche orim and ibyari. Oral narration has it that the whites (onasara) gave Ponzhi nbin iyem ibyari and nche orim through out his stay in tarok land. And that the missionaries usually visit Ponzhi Nbin at abam on such occasions. In return Ponzhi Nbin and his elders reciprocate on similar Christian occasions with the Missionaries always giving iyem kang to him. This practice of giving iyem ibyari exist till date where on such occasions the Local Government Council give Ponzhi Nbin iyem ibyari which is a bag of grains and goat.
This wonderful relationship accounts for rapid growth and development of Tarok people. Christianity developed like a wild fire with Tarok people taking over missionary roles from the whites. The Missionaries while leaving for Gindiri told Ponzhi Nbin and Tarok people that 'for accepting the gospel blessings shall not depart your land'. Of course, Tarok is reaping the great benefits of the gospel.
Our fore fathers knew God but it was their method that differ with Christianity which early Missionaries recognized and exploited maximally. Today, paradigm shift in this social relationship has generated acrimony that stalled progress. Fanaticism and intolerance has displaced love with mutual respect for one another. Gangsterism has replace the core values of traditional practices where vandals and hooligans desecrate traditions with utmost impunity. In the zeal to make disciples, the modern Church has adopted confrontational evangelical methods synonymous to jihad. Instead of adding value to the gospel, it has created acrimony between Christians and non Christians especially traditionalist thereby hardening non believing community from accepting it. Self pride, glory seeking with crave for material accumulation the has squandered the good will developed by Tarok founding fathers.
For Tarok to impact positively on both internal and external harmony there is urgent need to review these unwholesome trends of employing historical analysis. It was love shown by early Missionaries that convinced Ponzhi Nbin about their message, no wonder, the Bible says, without love, nobody can please God. The Tarok Church must embrace love to enable it lead the people accordingly. While, the culture and traditions of the people which did not offend christian faith must be preserved as part to enhance easy integration.
The decay in moral values and mental bankruptcy has compelled Tarok deviant minds to strayed into obnoxious philosophies of denying the existence of God. This anomaly is exotic to Tarok traditions because it seek to question the basis of faith. Atheism to Tarok is like declaration of war on the people by seeking to replace established traditions with anarchy. It is unacceptable as it is a threat to peace, unity, social harmony, tranquility and cooperate existence.
Tarok is like the Israelis they did not only know God but own Him as their God.
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