Abstrack:
Recent studies on Balinese religion discuss the emergence of Agama Hindu as a new religion and the proliferation of new religious movements such as Sai Baba1. Leo Howe, an anthropologist working on Balinese religion, stated that the proliferation of Sai Baba followers in Bali is a result of the introduction of various Indian religious traditions to the island by its intellectuals. A recent observation of the Sai Baba movement will clearly show that this movement is growing more popular especially since the transition to post-New Order Indonesia in 1998. In contrast with the New Order era when Sai Baba was under strict scrutiny, these groups are now warmly accepted by a far wider audience and especially from educated affluent urbanites.
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