'Fight terrorism with education!'

'Fight terrorism with education!'

Members of some Muslim organizations helped provide security at
churches in the capital and surrounding towns during the
Christmas celebrations. The participation of these groups in
guarding churches and other places used for Christmas services
has raised hopes of religious tolerance in the country. The
Jakarta Post listened to the opinions of some residents about
religious tolerance in the country.

Dewi Yunita, 28, is an account executive at PT Niarta JasaNet
in South Jakarta. She lives in East Jakarta.

It should not only be during Christmas, it would be nice if we
all could do something to make other people feel safe while they
perform religious services.

Indonesians have a high level of tolerance toward those of a
different faith. We are, however, not smart enough to avoid being
influenced by those who use the name of religion for personal
purposes.

It should be noted that the people who do those acts are
usually from the lower social classes, and I believe that many
problems, including terrorism, can be solved with rising level of
education and decreasing poverty.

I'm proud to live in a country with a high level of religious
tolerance, not by wanting everybody else to do what we do, but by
accepting differences and continuing to be faithful toward what
we believe in.

This proves that tolerance is not the problem in Indonesia,
but education. We have to raise our education level so that
people are no longer so easily influenced.

Harry, 35, works in the finance division of a local shipping
company in South Jakarta.

It is better if we all adhere to lakum dinu-kum wa liya dini
(unto you, your religion; and unto me, my religion), according to
verse 6 of Surah Al Kafirun in the Koran.

Let others pray according to their faith, and we according to
ours, without either hindrance or help.

--The Jakarta Post