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)