'Religion will continue to influence politics'
'Religion will continue to influence politics'
JAKARTA (JP): Religion has always had an influence over politics, two experts say, and it will continue to do so.
Daniel Dhakidae, a political scholar, and Frans Seda, a political analyst, concur that even if religion and politics do not necessarily mix, they do influence one another.
"Politics has the power to change a nation. Behind politics are ideals and philosophies. Through these means, religion enters into politics," said Seda, a former cabinet minister and now a successful businessman.
Daniel, a staff researcher at Kompas daily, was more forceful in his view about the influence of religion over politics. "Life is only determined by two factors: religion and politics. Everything else goes with these factors afterwards."
The two men were speaking on Tuesday at a seminar on "Religion and social changes in the context of Jakarta towards the 21st century" held in conjunction with the 40th anniversary of the activities of Societas Verbi Divini, a Roman Catholic order.
Daniel underlined that firing up people's religious sentiments has been used effectively in the past to achieve certain goals, a practice that will likely be repeated.
Sarekat Islam, the political party which existed in the early 1900s, is one example of how religion played a major role and took the first step toward building nationalism in Indonesia.
Daniel said religion plays a focal point in society as it determines major changes towards some of the most essential aspects of a country such as power, social, economic and cultural structures.
He added that religion could also drive people to go to the "extremes".
"People are only loyal to religion. I don't think someone would die for their country," he said. "But they would die for their family, their friends and their religion."
For this reason religious passion is often manipulated not for the well-being of a religion or its adherents, but for other purposes.
"Religious people usually only become aware that they have been used as an instrument 20 years later, when it is too late," he said.
While the powers of religion and politics hold sway over human behavior, Seda said the objectives of the two are totally different.
Commenting on the rising tension between various competing religions in the political arena, he said this could be countered by educating politicians and state officials in the state ideology Pancasila.
He emphasized that Pancasila's first principle -- "Belief in One God" -- should not be interpreted according to each religion's understanding, but should be based on the second principle of "Humanitarianism".
"Struggling to ensure that the country continues to be one which is based on law and sound moral values is one of the tasks that religious leaders must strive for," he said.
Societas Verbi Divini was first brought by German missionaries to East Nusa Tenggara more than a century ago, though it has only been conducting its activities in Jakarta for the past 40 years. (pwn)