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The People Who Worship A Mystical American Soldier
The Religious Cargo Cult That Still Exists Today
If you spend enough time in Vanuatu you will likely hear the legend of John Frum. John Frum is a man who appears to the faithful, often emerging from the brush to proclaim prophecy or bestow riches. The man dressed in Western attire and was a staple of the New Hebrides islands for the first half of the 20th century. John Frum blended native beliefs, World War II history, and cargo cult mentality into a strange brew that could have only originated from this time and place.
Despite seeming like an anachronism from another era, there are still people living in a village in the Pacific who hold fast to their belief in John Frum. John Frum was going to deliver them. John Frum was going to enrich them. John Frum was going to save them. Even though their numbers are dwindling, there are still those who believe these things and adhere to the teachings of John Frum.
Who Is John Frum?
The enigmatic figure at the heart of the John Frum movement is hard to pin down. The man’s name is often spelled John Frum, but it has also been John From and John Broom. The man is described as a white man, usually a soldier, dressed in Western attire. Some people describe him as wearing a GI’s uniform, while others…
