Leaders of religious groups vows to foster common values
Leaders of religious groups vows to foster common values
JAKARTA (JP): Leaders of Indonesia's five religious-based
organizations of intellectuals concluded a seminar on Indonesian
culture yesterday, vowing to temper differences and seek common
ground for cooperation.
Diversity could prove to be a weakness if allowed to be used
to exaggerate frictions and differences, said Mgr. Julius
Cardinal Darmaatmadja SJ, chairman of the Indonesian Bishops'
Assembly.
"Religions all call for respect for human rights, for people
to fight violence, to promote peace, justice and seek the truth,"
Darmaatmadja said.
He also said that openness, solidarity and recognition of each
other's existence constitutes three valuable religious elements
that have contributed to the strengthening of national culture
and unity.
Herman S. Endo, the chairman of the Indonesian Buddhist
Association, said all religions which have peacefully been
growing in the country have common values, such as love, empathy
and sympathy, equality and solidarity.
"Therefore, different religious groups should establish
cooperation...to fight for justice and to take sides with the
oppressed," he said.
The four-day seminar was closed by Vice President Try
Sutrisno. It was jointly organized by religious-based
intellectual organizations formed by Hindus, Moslems, Catholics,
Buddhists and Protestants.
Chairman of the Indonesian Churches Community, Sularso
Sopater, called on all groups in society to fight feudalism and
exclusivism.
Gedong Bagoes Oka of Forum for Indonesian Hindu Intellectuals
said that according to Hinduism, all the world is one big family
that should live in harmony.
She said that all human beings should live in tranquility with
their environment and form natural, dynamic interaction with it.
"The world should strive to preserve peace. This means we
should fight against violence and greed," she said, citing
India's Mahatma Gandhi.
In addition, all humans should fight violence and all negative
elements that grow in their own personalities. (rms)