Understanding the Concept of Sunda Wiwitan Religion in the Baduy Community in Indonesia Related to Environmental Management

The Sunda Wiwitan religion is a sect of worship of natural forces and ancestral spirits which is commonly called animism and dynamism. Sunda Wiwitan is believed to be the ‘religion’ of the Sundanese people in the past, which later became a religion attached to the Baduy tribe. The next development, the Sunda Wiwitan religion cannot be separated from the concept of monotheism because there is a supreme power, namely Sang Hyang Kersa which is equated with God Almighty. This study analyzes the concept of Belief in the Baduy customary law community related to environmental management as part of their belief. The research method used is descriptive-analytic with the aim of analyzing the state of the research area with the object of the Sunda Wiwitan religion in Baduy. The results of this study explain that the orientation, concept, and practice of the Sunda Wiwitan religion is only aimed at pikukuh for the welfare of life in the world. The highest power that until now is believed to be the spirits of ancestors who when cared for will give strength both physically and mentally to their descendants. For this reason, Baduy people until now consider worship to their ancestors so sacred or they call them karuhun. Karuhun is a strict customary provision in the form of taboos (pamali) that must be followed by all communities. The karuhun is related to the natural surroundings that should not be damaged, so that environmental management is an order of the Sunda Wiwitan religion.