Figure 1.--The photo was taken in Madagascar on Sunday, March 28, 2004. We don't know exactly where. This group of altar boys shows a change in custom that was then still in progress, probably in the urban areas. Most of the children wear sneakers, some open-toed sandals, but a few still go barefoot, which was the original way in Madagascar. We think the boys ar Catlolics. A reader tell us, "Usually Anglican altar servers wear black cassocks and surplices."

There are four main religious denominations in Madadagascar: 1) the Roman Catholic Church (EKAR), 2) the Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar (FJKM), 3) the Malagasy Episcopal Church (Eklesia Episkopaly Malagasy/Anglican Church), and 4) the Malagasy Lutheran Church (FLM). 【CCCM】 There are also several smaller denominations. Protestantism was adopted by royal family and became the first imprtant churches. Catholocism only became imprtant when Franve colonized Madagascar. The conflict between Christianity and traditional beliefs has evolved into a more tolerant relation, developed in part because of considerable mutual assimilation. We note a Protestant missionary family in Ambatomanga during 1901. Today the Malagasy are about evenly divided between Roman Catholics and Protestants. This is surprising because the country was a French colony, but reflects the influence of the monarchy. You would think the Catholic share would be higher. Many villages in the central highlands have two competing churches, one Protestant and one Roman Catholic. Commonly they face each other, situated at at opposite ends of the village. Religious affiliation shows some regional differences. The Roman Catholic church is particularly strong among the Betsileo people in the southern area of the central highlands. There are social class differences. Former slaves and the lower classes are commonly Catholic. Protestantism is strongest among the Merina and upper classes of the central highlands. The spread of Catholocism primarily spread after France made Madagascar a colony. We have limited information on Madagascar Christianity, but there is a First Communion page. Council of Christian Churches (CCCM) in Madagascar works to promote unity, dialog, and collective action the Chrustian community. 【Hall】 The CCCM consists of elected representatives from member churches.

Sources

Council of Christian Churches in Madagascar (CCCMM). Organization Website (2019).

Hall, J.L. (1990). "Response to The Report from the Third Quinquennium of the Dialogue between the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity of the Roman Catholic Church and Some Classical Pentecostal Churches and Leaders (1985-1989)". Pneuma. Vol. 12, No. 1 (1990), pp. 152–54.

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Created: 1:23 PM 7/6/2024
Last updated: 7:05 PM 7/6/2024