Cultural movement more effective

From Media Indonesia

In our quest for a quality improvement of democracy to keep pace with advanced countries, the emerging views of bureaucrats and religious institutions constitute a natural phenomenon.

The cultural movement of Islam has turned out to be more successful than political Islam in presenting a humanistic, pluralistic and dynamic face of Islam. In the Indonesian context, the struggle through the political path (of Islam) has failed.

As an indication, when we wish to make Islam the basis of the state, it never materializes. On the other hand, by giving prominence to political Islam, the face of Islam often becomes segmented and prone to conflict due to the emphasis on group interests.

In my view, the upholding of Islamic principles by means of a political vehicle is outdated, because the application of this method frequently results in clashes with other groups.

PRIYONO MARWAN ALIM Yogyakarta