If we are to make the Cook Islands a Christian nation, we must first ask: what version of Christianity are we talking about? Thomas Tarurongo Wynne writes.

There are many to choose from — speaking in tongues, Sabbath on a Saturday, baptism in Jesus’ name only, or the recognition of the Pope as the head of the church.

With so many expressions of Christianity — each with its own practices and beliefs — we must ask what version of Christianity we are aligning ourselves with. And where does that leave those who believe differently, or who do not believe at all?

Christianity has never existed in a vacuum. It has always grown in a place where other gods, other ideas, or other ways of knowing good were prevalent. Be it Abraham in the Middle East and the religions that surrounded him, the children of Israel in Egypt, then the wilderness, and then Canaan, or the gospels surrounded by Roman gods, Hebrew religious zealots, or simply disbelief. We cannot make a choice without having a choice, and we cannot have a choice if there is only one to choose from.

The greater concern may not be to define ourselves as a Christian nation, but to protect our people from the dangers of religious extremism — a threat that undermines peace, stability and the freedoms we cherish. The dangers of extremism, regardless of its origin, threaten the peace and stability we have long valued in our islands. Yet currently, there is no legislation or discretion by a Minister to protect us should this arrive on our shores.

I have felt the devastation of religious extremism personally — the scars it leaves can last a lifetime, the pain an eternity, and the damage as real as if it happened yesterday.

Our Constitution makes no room for a singular view of God or the expression of that faith. Faith is deeply personal, and in my view, should never be encroached upon by law or legislature. You cannot legalise what a person believes or does not believe. That happens in the heart of a person and is deeply personal.

That said, our preamble, which clearly states our Christian heritage, can be strengthened if needed and will not affect our freedoms enshrined in our Constitution. But our common enemy — and this must be stressed — is when religion is weaponised and used by some to victimise and persecute others, or to surrender their will to a prophet, a bishop, or a spiritual leader where their sense of self and agency has been harvested by the group, church, or congregation leader.

The story of Christianity’s arrival in the Cook Islands is deeply woven into our cultural identity. The arrival of Papeiha and Vahapata on Rarotonga, under the guidance of Reverend John Williams, marked the beginning of what would become a powerful influence on our islands.

Missionaries had a clear understanding of power. They knew that converting the most powerful — the high chiefs and ariki — would create a pathway for broader societal change. Once key leaders such Tinomana, Pōmare II in Tahiti, Malietoa Vainu'upo in Samoa, and King Taufa'āhau Tupou I in Tonga accepted Christianity, their people soon followed.

In the Cook Islands, this strategy proved equally effective. When influential leaders embraced the new faith, entire communities, reflecting our traditional understanding of power and authority, began to change their practices and values.

Christianity’s impact was swift and transformative. However, some Pacific nations anticipated the arrival of Christianity. For example, in Sāmoa, Nafanua the prophetess prophesied there would be a greater light that would come soon. When the Christian gospel arrived in Sāmoa, they saw that as the fulfilment of the prophecy. Similarly, in the Cook Islands, Uia, an Atiuan prophet, foretold the arrival of Christianity and Atiu became the gateway for John Williams arriving in Rarotonga.

If we are to define ourselves as a Christian nation, what kind of Christianity are we promoting? Are we talking about the conservative, orthodox Christianity of the early missionaries, or the faith adapted and shaped by Cook Islands cultural values? Are we speaking of the declining traditional churches or the growing Pentecostal movements that are reshaping how Cook Islanders worship today?

Whatever the answer decided upon by our governmental leaders, our common enemy is religious extremism — and as a nation, we must ensure our laws are equipped to protect us from it. Perhaps this is where our focus should lie — a shared effort to protect our people and preserve the peace we value so deeply.