'Religious coexistence in RI strong'<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesians have strong sense of religious
\ntolerance, despite recent evidence to the contrary, a survey
\nshows.<\/p>\n
A poll of 1,000 people in the three major cities of Medan,
\nJakarta and Surabaya showed the majority (64.3 percent) do not
\npick their neighbors because of their religion.<\/p>\n
Conducted by the Center for the Study of Development and
\nDemocracy (CESDA), the poll found that a whopping 97 percent
\nwould help or at least be concerned if neighbors of different
\nfaiths were in difficulties. CESDA was established by the
\nInstitute for Research, Education and Information of Social and
\nEconomic Affairs (LP3ES).<\/p>\n
Almost 71 percent of respondents said they would not choose
\nfriends on the basis of religion, while 86.4 percent said they
\nwould not feel uncomfortable working with people of different
\nfaiths. In addition, 66.7 percent said they would recruit
\nemployees based on their skills rather than their religions.<\/p>\n
The poll also found the majority of the people surveyed, or
\n63.2 percent, found it acceptable to give well-wishes to people
\nof different faiths during their holiday celebrations, be it
\nChristmas, Idul Fitri, Waisak or Galungan.<\/p>\n
A whopping 95.5 percent of people surveyed said they would
\nfeel happy to receive greetings from people of different beliefs.
\nAlmost 39 percent said they would accept attending other
\nreligions' celebrations.<\/p>\n
Quite a number of people surveyed said they would be willing
\nto give (28.2 percent) or receive (50.6 percent) donations for
\nthe construction of houses of worship of other religions.<\/p>\n
The poll also showed respondents were very aware of the need
\nfor religious coexistence. A total of 86.8 percent said
\nIndonesians of different religions coexist well; only 9.8 percent
\nsaid Indonesians do not live together harmoniously.<\/p>\n
Most of the people surveyed, 48.5 percent, attributed the
\nreligious harmony to people's own awareness; 35.2 percent said
\nreligions teach them so, while 12.5 percent said they live
\nharmoniously because of the government's call to do so.<\/p>\n
Inter-faith marriage, however, was an entirely different
\nmatter. The researchers cited the 1974 Marriage Law, which
\nrecognized same-religion marriages only, and community opinion.<\/p>\n
In the poll, 81 percent said they would not accept their
\nrelatives marrying people of different faiths. A total of 85.8
\npercent of Moslem respondents said they would not accept
\ninterfaith marriages. Among non-Moslem respondents, 50 percent
\nsaid they would accept inter-faith marriages, while 47.6 percent
\nsaid they would not.<\/p>\n
Those who would accept such marriages for people other than
\ntheir relatives said it was the right of the people concerned
\n(39.9 percent). The majority of this group, 70.2 percent, said it
\nwas the individuals' right to make such marriages; in addition, 5
\npercent said such marriages took place because of destiny.<\/p>\n
The poll surveyed 600 Jakartans, 250 Surabayans and 150
\nresidents of Medan, and lasted from Dec. 6 to 20. The respondents
\nwere 500 men and 500 women; 87,4 percent Moslems, 5.8 percent
\nProtestants, 3.1 percent Catholics and 3.7 percent believers of
\nHinduism and Buddhism.<\/p>\n
\"Despite the indication of strong sense of religious
\ntolerance, there still exist potential for conflict,\" LP3ES
\nDirector Rustam Ibrahim said here yesterday.<\/p>\n
Potential trouble spots were the construction of a house of
\nworship in an area where the majority were people of different
\nfaiths, and visiting houses to preach a different faith.<\/p>\n
Entjeng M. Shobirin dismissed suggestions that the study was
\nnot representative. He said the three major cities were chosen
\nprecisely because they represented Indonesian urban communities.
\n(03)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/religious-coexistence-in-ri-strong-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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