Religious differences must be accepted, say leaders<\/p>\n
BOGOR, West Java (JP): Nationwide acceptance of religious
\ndifferences is a prerequisite for ensuring harmony among
\nreligious communities and the efforts to build the country's
\ncivil society anew.<\/p>\n
A. Malik Fadjar, deputy chairman of Muhammadiyah, the
\ncountry's second largest Muslim organization, said a flurry of
\nsectarian conflicts recently had a lot to do with the public's
\ndenial of the fact that numerous religions exist here.<\/p>\n
\"The presence of the various religions must be accepted and
\nthis reality should be regarded as a blessing,\" Malik said at the
\nIndonesian Catholic Church's Grand Synod, which opened here on
\nThursday.<\/p>\n
The five-day synod, which officially opened on Wednesday, is
\nbeing held to discuss the empowerment of local communities in
\nbuilding a new Indonesia. Among those attending are the
\nIndonesian bishops, Catholic clergy and hundreds of Catholic
\nlayman.<\/p>\n
Malik, also a former minister of religious affairs, said he
\nwas deeply concerned about the escalating religious conflicts in
\nvarious parts of the country, which have distorted long-
\nestablished ties between the country's different faiths.<\/p>\n
\"It is ironic that after 55 years of the country's
\nindependence, the nation must go back to square one in building
\nreligious ties which are based on universal values,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Malik, however, said the sectarian conflicts and the unhealthy
\ncompetition among adherents of different religions had a lot more
\nto do with socioeconomic and political gaps than religious
\nfactors.<\/p>\n
He said that what was happening in Ambon, Ternate, Poso and
\nWest Kalimantan was the accumulated result of the gaps in the
\nsocial, economic and political fields between Muslim and non-
\nMuslim communities.<\/p>\n
He added that the conflicts were also sparked by religious
\ncommunities which are prone to defending their respective
\nreligions' absolute truth and their \"holy mission\" of converting
\nthe adherents of other religions.<\/p>\n
Rev. Eka Dharmaputera, chairman of the Indonesian Council of
\nChurches (PGI), called on socioreligious institutions and their
\nleaders to play an active role in helping to end religious
\nconflicts and reduce the intense bickering among the members of
\nthe political elite.<\/p>\n
\"Religious institutions and their leaders must play an active
\nrole in helping to reduce the race, intergroup and religious
\nconflicts (SARA) that have plagued several parts of the country.
\nThey should also be proactive in pressing the political elite to
\nstop the bickering among themselves because this has had a
\nnegative impact on the relationship between religious
\ncommunities,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He warned that the nation was facing a very serious situation
\nand that it would worsen if no action was taken to defuse the
\ncurrent multidimensional crisis.<\/p>\n
\"I am afraid that the nation will enter a second phase of the
\ncrisis if sectarian conflicts and the bickering among the
\npolitical elite continues,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Eka also expressed deep concern over the spiritual crisis
\naffecting Protestant churches in Indonesia, saying that many
\nProtestants were no longer loyal to their church's hierarchy
\nbecause of the reality that many clerics had failed to play a
\nrole in resolving the conflicts faced by their followers. (rms)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/religious-differences-must-be-accepted-say-leaders-1447893297",
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