The Construct of Ethical Intelligence: The Myth of “Pamali” in the Religiosity of the Kampung Naga Indigenous Community

Abstract

The controversy surrounding myths has generated theoretical and practical debates, particularly regarding their relationship with religious values and systems of belief. Religions based on sacred texts often position myths as superstitious elements that should be abandoned, while anthropological perspectives recognize myths as cultural mechanisms that communicate moral values, regulate behaviour, and preserve collective identity. This study examines the pamali tradition maintained by the Muslim indigenous community of Kampung Naga as a representation of myth within a religious context. Employing a philosophical-ethnographic approach with descriptive analysis, this research aims to describe the forms and expressions of the pamali myth, analyze the construction of ethical intelligence embedded within pamali, and examine its function as an ethical norm in the religiosity of the Kampung Naga community. The findings reveal that pamali operates as an explicit cultural expression containing ethical messages related to personal conduct, social relationships, environmental responsibility, and spiritual awareness. The study identifies four interconnected dimensions of ethical intelligence, namely personal ethics, social ethics, natural ethics, and religious ethics, which collectively construct a moral framework guiding community life. These findings emphasize that indigenous myths can serve as meaningful ethical resources that connect cultural heritage, religious values, and sustainable social practices.