Original Research

Theological interpretation of the Ma’parappo tradition in Christian marriage in the Tanalotong tribe, West Sulawesi

Deflit D. Lilo, Yusriani Sapitri
HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies | Vol 79, No 1 | a8093 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v79i1.8093 | © 2023 Deflit D. Lilo, Yusriani Sapitri | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 07 September 2022 | Published: 28 March 2023

About the author(s)

Deflit D. Lilo, Department of Theology, Faculty of Christian Theology and Sociology, Institut Agama Kristen Negeri Toraja, Tana Toraja, Indonesia
Yusriani Sapitri, Department of Theology, Faculty of Christian Theology and Sociology, Institut Agama Kristen Negeri Toraja, Tana Toraja, Indonesia

Abstract

According to the doctrine in Christianity and the church in West Sulawesi, especially in Kalumpang and Bonehau areas, men and women who are legally married have the right to live together in a home. However, in the context of the tradition of the Tanalotong tribal community in West Sulawesi, there was still a traditional procession that must be followed by married couples. The couple would be separated for a certain period of time after the wedding party is over. This traditional procession is called Ma’parappo. The researcher used a qualitative approach to present a theological interpretation of the implementation of the Ma’parappo tradition in Christian marriage. Therefore, this type of research is theological and ethnographic. Based on this interpretation, the researcher concluded that theologically, the Ma’parappo tradition is a traditional procession that is loaded with values and norms that govern the integrity of a marriage. This tradition is not a cultural ritual that goes against the teachings of the Bible. Therefore, Christians and churches in Kalumpang and Bonehau should not be antipathetic to the implementation of Ma’parappo in marriage.

Contribution: This study also aims to reveal the positive values contained in the marriage tradition of the Tanalotong tribe which can benefit religion and churches in West Sulawesi, especially in Bonehau and Kalumpang sub-districts. Therefore, the findings of this article can contribute to the development of the encounter between Christianity and the culture of the Tanalotong tribe.


Keywords

Christian marriage; indigenous people; Ma’parappo; Tanalotong; theological interpretation.

Sustainable Development Goal

Goal 5: Gender equality

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