Master's thesis in Theology. VID Specialized University, Stavanger. May 2024This thesis presents a dialogue between the biblical text of the Old Testament and Malagasy culture by interrelating Antemor’s perspective on fora-Zaza and fatrange to the traditional cir-cumcision of Israel, focusing on the analysis of the ritual importance within both Israel and Antemoro backgrounds. Firstly, the study explores the meaning and role of circumcision within the Antemoro tribe. It highlights circumcision as an imperative ritual intertwined with their ethnic identity. Within the Antemoro tribe, circumcision serves as a pivotal rite of passage, symbolically initiating the child into familial membership in the fatrange. It is a clan system that plays a crucial role as a system of governance, local worldview, and socio-political dynam-ics of the tribe. The uncircumcised are deemed ritually unclean and are rejected from having a right to an inheritance. This is to emphasize the necessity of circumcision for purity and ances-tral blessings.
Next, the research examines circumcision among the Israelites as a sign of the covenant which solidifies their commitment to God’s covenant with Abraham. Joshua’s circumcision signifies a renewal of this covenant, ensuring the Israelites’ entitlement to the promised land. Additionally, circumcision becomes a prerequisite for marriage within the Israelite community, further underscoring its essence in their cultural and religious practices. The thesis culminates in a comparative dialogue between the Antemoro cultural perspectives, particularly regarding fora-zaza, fatrange and the circumcision ritual within the ancient Israelite customs. This juxta-position offers valuable insights into the similarities between these two distinct cultural con-texts, enriching our understanding of the meaning of circumcision within diverse cultural frameworks.submittedVersio
