'Cultural propagation promotes tolerance'<\/p>\n
Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan<\/p>\n
Noted Muslim scholar Nurcholish Madjid hailed on Tuesday
\nMuhammadiyah's plan to propagate religion using a cultural
\napproach, saying it would promote tolerance among religious
\nfollowers in the country.<\/p>\n
Nurcholish said that by taking into account the presence
\nof the surrounding cultural environment of the community, the
\ncountryUs second largest Muslim organization would not fall into
\n\"being pressured to propagate Islam.\"<\/p>\n
\"Cultural propagation is characteristically inclusive, as opposed to political campaigns which are exclusive,\" he told
\nThe Jakarta Post, after addressing a seminar on good governance
\nat the Novotel Hotel in Medan, North Sumatra.<\/p>\n
Muhammadiyah, which claims 30 million followers, has just
\nconcluded its national meeting in Bali, which resulted in some
\nresolutions, including the proposal to propagate culture within
\nsociety.<\/p>\n
According to Nurcholish, cultural propagation must
\ninvolve all people from different backgrounds, and it must
\nconsider the cultural practices preserved in the society.<\/p>\n
Nurcholish cited an example of the past, when
\nMuhammadiyah founder Achmad Dahlan established some Muhammdiyah
\nschools using Dutch names, such as HIS Muhammadiyah, William
\nMuhammadiyah and Hans Muhammdiyah.<\/p>\n
In a society culturally dominated by the Dutch, such an
\nadaptation would serve to encourage people to respect Islamic
\nteachings, Nurcholish asserted.<\/p>\n
Asked of Muhammdiyah'ss plan to support a Muhammadiyah
\ncadre in the presidential election, Nurcholish said that it was
\nquite understandable.<\/p>\n
\"One of the elements of democracy is participation.
\nMuhammdiyah is not a political party, but it has the right to
\nendorse a person for presidency.<\/p>\n
The same practice exists in the U.S., where nonpolitical
\nparty organizations also nominate their presidential candidates
\nfrom a political party,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Nurcholish said that the support should be seen as a
\nresponsive step by Muhammadiyah, an organization which is living
\nin society and is concerned about recent social and political
\ndevelopments.<\/p>\n
\"This is a new consciousness that the organization must
\npay attention to and try to meet peopleUs demands,\" he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/cultural-propagation-promotes-tolerance-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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