Religious pluralism<\/p>\n
Dr. Nurcholish Madjid's statement explaining pluralism in
\nreligions in Indonesia (Kompas, Dec. 10, 1999) has driven me to
\nmake some comments. He said: \"Why are we different? May God
\nexplain to you some day!\"<\/p>\n
It is a pity if that is the extent of his explanation because
\nthe religious people in Indonesia will not understand. The
\nAcehnese still want to separate from Indonesia to establish an
\nIslamic country. The religious war in Ambon between Christians
\nand Muslims is still going on.<\/p>\n
Should we expect an explanation from Satrio Piningit (a sort
\nof Robin Hood) who never comes? God gave humans' a brain to
\nanalyze and carry out critical thinking about all problems that
\nhappen in the world. All matters follow the law of \"action and
\nreaction\" (or cause and effect).<\/p>\n
The explanation should start from the melting point of
\npluralism itself, which in Islam is Tauhid (the science of God,
\nor what Indonesians call Pancasila). With Tauhid we can examine
\nthe Isra Mi'raj (the night journey\/ascension) of Prophet Muhammad
\nwho traveled through dimensions of space and time from Al Haram
\nMosque, Mecca (which is the point of direction for Muslims to
\npray to), to Al Aqsa Mosque, Jerusalem, (which is the point of
\ndirection for Christians and other religions), to Sidratul
\nMuntaha (Heaven), and back again. This journey can explain the
\nbeginning of human beings and religions from the very first time.<\/p>\n
Religions come to the world as a cycle that never ends, the
\nnext religion will complete the previous one (Koran: Chapter
\nYassin verses 36, 37, 38, 39, 40).<\/p>\n
From the Isra Mi'raj we know that the point of direction for
\nMuslims and Christians are the opposite of each other, that means
\none of them was created first and the other was created last.
\nThat is why there is always the potential for the two religions
\nto have conflicts.<\/p>\n
The Madinah Charter in our prophet's history is an agreement
\nbetween Muslims and Christians not to disturb or interfere with
\neach other. Identical to that problem our founders in Indonesia
\nhad also made The Jakarta Charter, so that Pancasila is
\nacceptable to all the people and religions of Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Religions are easy to know and understand if we can recognize
\nthe symbolic stories. For example: First, there is no difference
\nbetween Malaikat Jibril in Islam and Angel Gabriel in
\nChristianity. Second, let us review the Christian prayer: Our
\nFather in Heaven above, take us to your Kingdom, and if we look
\nat the Koran, Surah (Chapter) Al Mulk, verse 67, it describes
\nalso a Heavenly Kingdom. So the goal of the two religions is
\nreally just the same thing. For Muslims that Kingdom is a reward
\nfor those who devoted themselves to God (Ar Rahman 55: 49).<\/p>\n
In this holy month of Ramadhan and the last Christmas of this
\ncentury, let us open our hearts to know each other, reconcile and
\njoin our people as one to rebuild our New Indonesia.<\/p>\n
DR. AGUS UTORO<\/p>\n
Serang, West Java<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/religious-pluralism-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }