Do not politicize religion<\/p>\n
From Rakyat Merdeka<\/p>\n
Political observer Arbi Sanit has said that Habibie and his
\nassociates will, by hook or by crook, resort to money politics
\nand the politicizing of religion to maintain the pro-status-quo
\nregime.<\/p>\n
This money politics and the act of politicizing religion seem
\nto reduce the role of Islam only to that of seeking power and
\nmoney. One can see on television that there are more Muslim
\nteachers or leaders than scientists who have been given presents
\nand granted facilities. It seems as if this state would be
\ntransformed into \"a State of Praying People\" or \"a Slogan State\"
\nand not \"a Workers' State\". The president and his ministers seem
\nto have visited pesantren (Islamic boarding schools) more
\nfrequently than research institutions or universities.<\/p>\n
Muslim clerics are often invited to the place and these events
\nare usually especially reported in the mass media, particularly
\non television.<\/p>\n
One recent case related to the politicizing of religion in an
\nattempt to block Megawati's bid for the presidency. All these
\nstrategies have been aimed at shaping public opinion into
\nbelieving that the ruling party or the government is synonymous
\nwith defenders of Islam or even with Islam itself.<\/p>\n
As for me, in the case of respect for God, it is Megawati that
\nmust be highly praised because she has hardly ever manipulated
\nreligion to cheat the masses of her party in search of worldly
\npower.<\/p>\n
Megawati highly respects God by means of honoring God's
\ngrandeur in the world, which is none other than religion. She has
\nnever soiled religion through money politics or the politicizing
\nof religion. To us, money politics and the politicizing of
\nreligion are tantamount to acts to ridicule religion and even
\ndestroy the good image of religion and are in no way acts that
\ndefend religion.<\/p>\n
In the case of presidential candidacy and the gender issue,
\njust remember that God has never set one's mastery of science and
\nuniversity degree as a prerequisite to go to heaven. What God
\nrequires in this respect are honesty, justice and morality.<\/p>\n
University degrees mean nothing if they are used only to
\nprotect corruptors, hooligans, rioters, provocateurs, kidnappers
\nand even murders. University degrees are worthless if they are
\nused to protect acts of spending people's money to pursue one's
\ngreat interest in high technology or acts to manipulate or even
\nsiphon off state money (in the case of the social safety net
\nfunds).<\/p>\n
It is hoped that the presidential race will be won by one who
\nrespects God.<\/p>\n
HARYO MATARAM<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/do-not-politicize-religion-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }