Gus Dur attends Pangestu congress<\/p>\n
SURAKARTA, Central Java (JP): In a testament to his religious
\npluralism, President Abdurrahman Wahid on Friday attended the
\n14th Pangestu (a Javanese spiritual\/mystical belief) Congress.<\/p>\n
In his address to the congress, the President called on
\nfollowers of the belief to veer away from a narrow-minded view of
\ntheir belief.<\/p>\n
\"In the 1950s, many followers of Javanese mysticism took an
\nanticlerical attitude and rejected any (formal) religious
\nteachings. But I don't think that such a view exists now,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
\"If you keep such a view, you will be left alone,\" he added,
\nsaying that all beliefs should maintain a tolerant way of life
\nand remain open to the teachings of others.<\/p>\n
Radicalism will always fail to make people live in prosperity
\nand peace, he said.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman made a brief stop in the Central Java town to
\nattend the three-day congress, which began on Thursday, on his
\nway back to Jakarta after a short visit to West Nusa Tenggara.<\/p>\n
Mysticism and spiritualism have long been popular in
\nIndonesian society. Many extra-religious ceremonies are embedded
\nin local culture, mixed together with more formal and established
\nbeliefs.<\/p>\n
Pangestu is just one of the hundreds of spiritualist
\norganizations in the country. It was established in Surakarta in
\n1949.<\/p>\n
Its current chairman, Soedjarwo, claimed there were over
\n120,000 followers spread out across 194 branches in Java,
\nSumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Lombok and Irian Jaya.<\/p>\n
Soedjarwo served as minister of forestry under both president
\nSukarno and Soeharto. (44)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/gus-dur-attends-pangestu-congress-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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