While the art of rock stacking is super cool, the delicately balanced rocks themselves aren’t exactly divine forms (by most world religions’ standards). Yet government officials in Indonesia felt they need to tell locals that the “mysterious” appearance of stacked rocks in West Java were not caused by supernatural powers.
Recently, around 90 stacked rocks appeared on the Cibojong river on the Cidahu district in the Sukabumi regency. Due to their sudden appearance and the fact that nobody claimed to be their skillful stackers, droves of locals reportedly went down to the river to witness what they thought was a mystical phenomenon. Images and videos also circulated widely online and on messaging apps saying that “there was no way that the rocks were made by man.”
Islam rejects idolatry, so government officials in the predominantly Muslim regency asserted their authority and took down the artistic display to prevent “religious deviation”.
“This could lead to idolatry. If the people believe there are other powers, we worry that they’d deviate from religious teachings,” said Cidahu District Head Ading Ismail, as quoted by Liputan 6 last Friday.
(Well, if somebody’s faith can be changed by a pile of rocks, they probably weren’t that dedicated to their faith in the first place…)
Officials in the region still don’t know who stacked the rocks. There have been reports of people stacking them at night (the most likely explanation) or that mystical forces are behind it all (not so likely).
“Some even said that they saw a white monkey, that’s just too nonsensical,” said Agus Muzamil, secretary for a nearby village.
To be fair, District Head Ading cited another, more logical, reason for taking down the rock formations that rocked the district.
“This is the monsoon season. We worry the Cibojong river will overflow and claim victims,” he said.
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