Former minister warn of rising materialsm
Former minister warn of rising materialsm
JAKARTA (JP): Religions will now have to contend with the
growing impacts of materialism being brought on by globalization,
an expert said over the weekend.
Emil Salim, a former state minister for population and
environment, said that the challenge is not conflict between
religious groups but the dangers of materialism.
"Even Pope John Paul and Moslem leaders are worried about
materialism dominating society," he said.
Material urges need to be balanced by spirituality, Emil said.
"We should develop our religions as a balancing factor," he
said.
Speaking after Open University's 11th anniversary ceremony at
Pondok Cabe in Ciputat, 20 km south of here, Emil said that the
vision of religion depends on public morality.
"So far religious propagation has emphasized the importance of
positive individual deeds," he said.
Religious leaders should find a way to pursue a moral standard
for the public, he added.
Emil also said that rapid development has pushed the people
toward corruption and bribery to boost their business activities.
"The funny thing here is that many people believe it is a
normal thing to do," he said.
Civil servants also think they deserve such rewards, he added.
"This is a bad trend in our society. Good moral values have
been left behind," Emil said.
Emil presented an oration on the challenges facing Open
University, saying that the role of the press is rapidly
changing.
"Now the role is no longer to reflect public opinion but to
create one," he said.
The press needs to be controlled by its owners and not the
government so that publishing licenses can't be revoked.
In the face of globalization, the government needs to
anticipate the rapid developments in technology, a
decentralization of bureaucracy, economic deregulation, a
decentralization of politics and the balance between spiritualism
and materialism, Emil said.
The persons who should be prepared to face the future are
scientists, he said.
Open University is different from both state and private
universities. It is democratic in nature and is open to anyone
wanting to further his or her education. No entrance exam is
required and there is an emphasis on independent learning
methods.
The university has the ability to reach areas around the
country and to create an intellectual atmosphere, he added.
Open University, which celebrates its 11th anniversary today,
has 388,300 students spread out all over the country.
Its target is to accommodate students who have failed to get
into state or private schools and working people with tight
schedules.
The university also has a teacher training college with
300,000 students, a school of economics (35,000 students), a
school of political and social sciences (50,000 students) and a
school of mathematics and natural sciences (3,300 students). (05)