The Pomio Kivung movement incorporates narratives of
sovereignty and
economic development,
syncretic Christianity, and traditional Papuan
ancestor worship into a single religious system. Its adherents believe in a coming
millennium, during which the ancestors of Baining people will return as "Western scientists and industrialists"
[4] to transform East New Britain into a vast urban metropolis, politically and economically independent from Papua New Guinea. During this period - referred to as the 'Period of the Companies' (
Tok Pisin Taim bilong Kampani), every material need will be provided for. However, those who do not indulge themselves in this time and instead devote themselves to the movement will enter a second millennium, the paradisaical 'Period of Government' (
Taim bilong Gavman) free of death, disease, reproduction, work and warfare. During the Period of Government, the living Baining will be able to remove their brown skin to find healthy white skin underneath.
[5] Those who give into hedonism during the Period of the Companies will instead find themselves in
Hell or 'jail' (
kalibus).
This millenarian vision is accompanied by a
mystical belief in the present existence of 'government' (
Gavman) on a spiritual plane. God and virtuous ancestors reside on this plane, referred to as the 'Ancestral Council' (
Kaunsel Tumbuna) or 'Village Government' (
Vilij Gavman), and devotees look forward to joining it after death. Ancestors on this plane also take part in voting during elections, providing success to Pomio Kivung candidates over their opponents.
[6] Unlike the Christian
Heaven, this plane is conceptually located underground, as part of a web of metaphors contrasting the material surface or 'skin' (
patuna) with underlying spiritual reality or 'food' (
kaikai). Devotion to this spiritual plane is described in the language of government (a request for ancestral intercession, for example, is often called a 'report', and its recipients are called 'secretaries'), partly as a kind of
anti-language to disguise its meaning from Melanesian authorities and partly as a real spiritual expression of material needs.
[7]
Pomio Kivung is also characterised by a strong reverence for an altered version of the
Ten Commandments (
Tenpela Lo), which are represented by a decorative pole inscribed with the Roman numerals I to X placed in every Pomio Kivung village. These Commandments, followers believe, were taught to Koriam by a white man named 'brother' (
Brata). Those who break the Commandments are required to perform penance in the form of silent contemplation, called a 'Check' (
Sek), in front of a money jar called 'Television'. The spiritual essence of money raised through 'Televisions' is believed to go to the
Gavman under the earth, while its 'skin' (material existence) is sent to 'buy government' (
Baim gavman) around the world to hasten the arrival of the millennium.
[8]