| dc.description.abstract | Christians and Muslims have lived together peacefully in the Vohipeno area, Southeastern Madagascar, since Christianity was established in 19th century. The problem which has prompted my investigation is, that the relations between Christians and Muslims have changed during the last three decades. This research explores the reasons for the emerging tensions and investigates and analyzes the conditions and reasons for the relatively peaceful interreligious relations which have formerly prevailed in the Vohipeno area. It also suggests and discusses socio-cultural and theological resources for building sustainable and peaceful interreligious relations between Christians and Muslims in Malagasy communities. The empirical materials are collected through a qualitative oriented approach, by interviewing ordinary Christians and Muslims, Christian and Muslim leaders, administrative and traditional leaders, and through the recollections from my earlier experiences. The empirical data are described, presented, and analyzed thematically in the Vohipeno setting as well as in the Malagasy context. The research found that the socio-cultural concepts of havana [family, relatives] and fihavanana [good relationship, friendship, solidarity, harmony, and peace], which operate in all types of familial, communal, and interpersonal relations among wider social Malagasy community at local level, at regional level, and at national level, are models and reference points for interpersonal and interreligious relations between Christians and Muslims. From this, the peace in the society and lastly peaceful coexistence between Christians and Muslims in the Antemoro ethnic group are anchored in the havana model as well as the fihavanana model. Through the discussion of the socio-cultural and theological resources, these models are redefined, renewed, and supplemented by the combination of shared socio-cultural and religious values – shared blood, shared ancestry, shared village, friendship and good relations, harmony, unity and solidarity, love and respect, cooperation, mutual understanding, and peace and justice – in which the sustainable and peaceful interreligious relations between Christians and Muslims in Malagasy communities are rooted, cemented, and strengthened. Thus, the socio-cultural and theological perspectives on the “family and relatives” [havana] and the fihavanana, which are originally the shared socio-cultural concepts and values between Christians and Muslims, contribute to build sustainable and peaceful interreligious relations between them. | en_US |
