Minister warns of religious conflicts
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Religious Affairs Tarmizi Taher said over the weekend that religious diversity had the potential to either enrich spiritual life or become a source of conflict.
Addressing an audience of 3,000 during a celebration of the ministry's 52nd anniversary, held at Padjadjaran Sports Hall in Bandung, West Java, Tarmizi said conflicts incited by religious issues were more dangerous than those sparked by other factors.
He said religion transcended geographical, demographical and sociological borders.
Devotion to a religion, he said, is linked more with people's emotions and beliefs, particularly those at the grass roots.
"Religious conflicts bring about serious, widespread and substantial damage. We have to pay dearly -- socially, politically and economically -- if they take place," Tarmizi was quoted by Antara as saying.
Sporadic ethnic and religious riots rocked the country last year.
The ministry's anniversary was simultaneously commemorated across the country Saturday with presentations of government medals for meritorious employees.
West Java Governor Nuriana attended the celebration in Bandung.
Tarmizi said that pluralism should prompt Indonesians to make religious harmony a top priority because it would help enhance political stability and national resilience.
"Such a harmonious life will give us a strong footing when we take on various threats coming from either outside or inside the country in the future."
He said that followers of different religions should continue to seek a common understanding -- through open dialog and promoting religious tolerance -- while maintaining their uniqueness.
"The principle to agree to disagree will curb any potential religious conflicts."
He claimed that religious harmony had been maintained since the 1970s and was one of the New Order's most commendable achievements.
This harmony has been reflected by the freedom of religious devotion and the growing tolerance among followers of different religions.
He said the New Order had given its utmost attention to the development of places of worship.
As of last year, the government had built 609,774 mosques, 31,758 churches for Protestants, 14,860 churches for Catholics, 22,407 Hindu temples and 4,217 Buddhist temples, according to Tarmizi.
"So let's take a look at the past to remind ourselves that since the inception of the republic, Indonesians, despite their differences, have pledged to live together as one nation."
Earlier in the ceremony, Tarmizi also launched his autobiography, written by Wakbudin, a journalist of the local daily Pikiran Rakyat.
The book, Tarmizi Taher, Jembatan Umat, Ulama dan Umara (Tarmizi Taher: the Bridge for Masses, Ulemma and the Government), talks about Tarmizi's role in preserving religious harmony in the country and his thoughts on management reform in the Ministry of Religious Affairs. (amd)