Religions to exist in greater harmony in 1995: Minister
Religions to exist in greater harmony in 1995: Minister
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Religious Affairs Tarmizi Taher
predicts that this year will see a more harmonious co-existence
among adherents to the various religions in Indonesia.
Tarmizi said that the educational and economic gaps separating
people from different religious backgrounds are narrowing, thus
strengthening national stability.
"Past hatchets will be buried. Increasingly equal economic and
educational status will result in national stability," he told
journalists here Sunday.
Official statistics indicate that almost 90 percent of
Indonesia's 185 million people are Moslems. The rest are mostly
Buddhists, Hindus, Protestants and Roman Catholics. A smaller
number are believers in mysticism -- the "sixth way to heaven"
recognized by the government.
Despite the overwhelming number of people embracing Islam, the
government shuns efforts to turn Indonesia into a theocratic
state. Such efforts are considered subversive. Subversion is one
of the most serious offenses under the country's laws and is
punishable by death.
Tarmizi assured that the revival of Islam in Indonesia would
remain under control although it could give rise to religious
friction if not carefully managed.
"The revival is encouraging on one hand, but it can stir
religious suspicion on the other," he told Antara news agency.
He added that the revival of Islam would not endanger the
nation's unity as long as local Moslems stick to the state
ideology Pancasila.
Introduced by Indonesia's founding fathers in 1945, Pancasila
consists of five tenets: belief in almighty God, national unity,
consensus through deliberation, humanitarianism and social
justice. It has become the sole principle of all local socio-
political organizations.
According to Tarmizi, Islam's revival will not give rise to
the emergence of Islam as a new ideology.
"If more Moslems are becoming devout, they are just exercising
their constitutional rights in a democratic society," he said.
He added that believers in other religions need not worry
about the trend. He said the harmonious co-existence of believers
in various religions would prevail if they shun "liberal and
individualistic" lifestyles.
He reiterated that the propagating of religious beliefs
remained a sensitive issue and that sermons should be aimed at
people of the same religions as the preachers.
The minister called for restraint in activities that could
lead to violence within any religious organization and vigilance
against individuals who try to use religion for political
purposes.
He also called on the public to be wary of individuals who
tried to use religious sentiments to win sympathy for their
personal gain.(pan)