Bӧlibӧli as a model of consolation in the study of archipelagic community identity and Christian traditions of consolation, philosophy, and the culture of Hulo Batu, Indonesia
Abstract
This article explores the böliböli of Hulo Batu as a model of Christian consolation distinctive to Indonesia’s archipelagic context, analyzing it through the lenses of Christian and philosophical traditions of consolation. To this purpose, the author employs a qualitative method involving a literature review of Aholiab Watloly’s concept of the archipelagic self; Boethius’s philosophical theology of consolation; and Christian traditions found in the narratives of Job and the Psalms. The study also uses Christoph Jedan’s contemporary model of the theology of consolation to enrich the construction of the Hulo Batu-specific theology of consolation. The study reveals that böliböli embodies a four-axis function of consolation that aligns with Christian, philosophical, and local Hulo Batu cultural traditions. This article matters because it addresses tensions among cultural traditions, philosophy, and Christianity within the community. The research suggests valuing community identity and celebrating the diversity of consolation traditions in Indonesia.
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Authors
Copyright (c) 2026 Oinike Natalia Harefa, Digna Victoria Manaö
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.