Moslem preachers told to develop skills

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Religious Affairs Tarmizi Taher has called on Indonesian da'i (Moslem preachers) to prepare for massive social challenges.

Addressing the opening ceremony of a nine-day training course for da'i of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Moslem organization Saturday, Tarmizi said future Moslem preachers would need to instill people with a strong sense of morality.

"Future preachers need not only master Islamic teaching but also ways to instill morality in people," he told some 200 participating preachers.

They would need to do so, he said, as the country confronts a crisis of morality caused by the onslaught of western media producing images at odds with Moslem culture.

The chairman of the NU department for Islamic teachings, Sullam Symasun, said Indonesian preachers have to master science and technology in addition to religious laws and theology.

He also called on participants to avoid aggressive and offensive methods of propagation, which he said were the mark of propaganda agents of the outlawed Indonesian Communist Party (PKI).

"Islamic teachings should be delivered gently and with carefully selected words," he said.

Separately, Antara reported Saturday a total of 1,000 da'i have been assigned to teach in various rural areas of West Nusa Tenggara during Ramadhan.

Head of the provincial office of the Ministry of Religious Affairs H.M. Tubat said the preachers would also inform villagers of Indonesia's progress in national development programs.

The province currently has 4,500 mosques, 6,500 smaller mushala and 3,700 even smaller langgar, with 2,000 preachers. (imn/swe)