Beyond Genealogy: The Keturah Narrative as a Symbolic Framework for Social Cohesion and Peacebuilding in Southeast Asia

Abstract

Religious narratives have long shaped collective identities and intergroup relations, yet their potential contribution to contemporary peacebuilding remains underexplored. Among the Abrahamic traditions, the narrative of Keturah (Genesis 25:1-6) has received comparatively limited scholarly attention, with existing studies focusing primarily on genealogy, biblical history, and theological interpretation. This study examines how the Keturah narrative may be reinterpreted as a symbolic cultural resource for fostering social cohesion and peacebuilding in Southeast Asia. Using a qualitative thematic synthesis, the study integrates interdisciplinary literature with semi-structured interviews conducted with two anthropologists and three religious scholars representing Jewish, Christian, and Islamic traditions. Data were analyzed through thematic coding and cross-source comparison to identify recurring interpretive patterns concerning genealogy, shared ancestry, symbolic identity, and intergroup relations. The findings indicate that the Keturah narrative can be understood beyond biological descent as a symbolic representation of shared ancestry. This reinterpretation supports the development of symbolic kinship, which encourages recognition of broader human connectedness while respecting distinct religious identities. The analysis further suggests that symbolic kinship may strengthen social cohesion by fostering trust, reciprocity, and constructive engagement across religious and cultural boundaries, thereby contributing to conditions that support positive peace. Rather than proposing a historical account of ancestry, the study offers a conceptual pathway illustrating how religious narratives may be reinterpreted as symbolic resources for dialogue and coexistence. The study contributes to scholarship by introducing symbolic kinship as an analytical framework linking Abrahamic narratives, social cohesion, and peacebuilding. It also demonstrates how underexplored religious narratives can inform culturally grounded approaches to peacebuilding within plural societies.