Religious figures and politics<\/p>\n
From Pikiran Rakyat<\/p>\n
I find the following news report, published in a number of
\ndailies on Dec. 22, interesting to respond to: \"The National
\nCommittee of Human Rights also very much hopes that religious
\nfigures will intensify their efforts to teach their followers.
\nUntil now, religion has been utilized to pursue political
\nambitions.\"<\/p>\n
As far as I know, every religion has a fixed principle, namely
\na guidance that God has passed on only to the prophets (divine
\ninspiration) in order that the latter may pass on to human
\nbeings. This guidance includes both ways to reach heaven\/nirvana
\nand also ways to behave properly -- ethics and morality -- in
\nhuman interaction in political, economic, legal, educational,
\nsocial and many other sectors.<\/p>\n
The news report quoted above is not intended as a hidden
\ncampaign aimed at preventing religious leaders from involving
\nthemselves in political matters and confining their movement to
\nreligious affairs only. Unless my guess is right, this statement
\nby the National Committee on Human Rights smacks of secularism.<\/p>\n
According to experts, secularism is a way of life pursued by
\ncertain religious people and atheists. These people are concerned
\nonly with material or worldly satisfaction and do not recognize
\nthe existence of God and the hereafter.<\/p>\n
Although these people show themselves devoutly religious
\npeople, they do not see the need to establish a mental
\nrelationship with God, in terms of behavior or prayers and
\nreligious services. They also do not recognize the existence of
\ndivine inspiration as a source of belief and the foundation of
\nscience and technology.<\/p>\n
These people believe that belief and ethical as well as moral
\nvalues are created by the community. They have been produced by
\nhistory and are the traces left behind by man's beastly nature.
\nTherefore, these people concentrate all their deeds on
\nfulfillment of physical needs only.<\/p>\n
Two relevant and actual examples are rampant practices of
\ncorruption, collusion and nepotism and violations of human rights
\nduring the New Order era. These practices could go on unchecked
\nperhaps because the religious leaders and the majority of the
\nreligious followers were influenced in such a way that they
\nconsidered political involvement a taboo.<\/p>\n
Another reason was that during the New Order era, the general
\ntasks of the government and political, economic, legal and other
\ndevelopment undertakings smacked of secularism. Religious leaders
\nand their followers could not then make their best choice.<\/p>\n
So, now that Soeharto has stepped down, efforts must be made
\nto ensure that religion-based parties win the 1999 general
\nelection. May God bless the struggle of religious people in
\nIndonesia in upholding justice and democracy.<\/p>\n
SUNGKOWO SOKAWERA<\/p>\n
Bandung, West Java<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/religious-figures-and-politics-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }