Figure 1.--The Madagascar photo postcard was taken abiut 1930. A group of altar boys are wearing cassocks and surplices as in France. The priest in the back row is wearing the traditional French priests collar. However, as almost all Malagasy children, these altar boys went barefoot. They belonged to the Betsileo ethnicity which is predominately Catholic.

Traditional beliefs were very strongly held in Madagascar. Despite Arab control of the Indian Ocean for centuries, unlike East Africa, Islam seems to have few inroads on Madagascar. Nor did Hinduism reach Madagascar from India. Christianity reached MadagObservers believe that about 40 percent of the Malagasy are today Christians sivided among several different denominations. Christianity reached Madagascar first with the Portuguese. There was, however, little effort to convert the Malagasy. Christianity in Madagascar thus spread slowly. An even converted Chrustians incorporated elements of ancient tribal worship in their Christian worship. The French colonial era brought a serious effort by missionaroes to convert the Malagassy (19th century). There was a reaction among the Malagasy. This meant primarily Catholics, but Protestant missonary activity was began in the late-19th century. Queen Ranavalona I (1828-61) is sometimes called the 'Mad Monarch of Madagascar'. She expelled foreign missionaries and persecuted Malagasy Christians. Some were even put to death. This changed with her death. With ohe advent of King Ranavalona II, the traditional religion was targeted. Authorities began tp destroy old sampy (idols or talismans endowed with supernatural powers to protect the kingdom). Protestantism was adopted by royal family. The conflict between Christianity and traditional bliefs 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 probably reflects the influence of the monarchy. ou 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 afiliatiin shows some regional differences. The Roman Catholic church is particularly strong among the Betsileo people in the southern area of the central highlands. The former slaves and the cÙtiers are also commonly Catholic. Protestantism is stromgest among the Merina of the central highlands. It is thus often sen as as the Christian affiliation of the Malagassy upper classes. Although the religion of thev minority of Malagasy, the Council of Christian Churches played a key role in resolving the conflict stemming from the violence and general strikes (May and August 1991). We have limited information on Madagascar, but there is a First Communion page.

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Created: 6:12 AM 12/7/2012
Last updated: 6:13 AM 12/7/2012