Religious exclusivity should be avoided
Religious exclusivity should be avoided
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The advancement of the quality of religiosity and morality
among the Indonesian people should not be carried out in the
spirit of religious exclusivity because it can foment intolerance
among followers of different religions.
This message was conveyed by Indonesian Conference on Religion
and Peace (ICRP) Chairman Djohan Effendi in a text read out by
Abdul Muhaimin, an ICRP member.
"In this perspective, I think lessons on ethics are relevant
as an instrument for moral education to boost an all-inclusive
approach," read the statement in the opening of a discussion here
on Thursday.
He emphasized that behind the different practices, all
religions inspired their own followers to become good and moral
human beings.
Djohan was commenting on the calls for the need to revive budi
pekerti (character building) lessons due to eroding morality
within society in the form of brutal and bloody conflicts across
the country.
He suggested that all community and religious leaders
contemplate on their sins and past wrongdoings.
Clashes, in particular religious conflicts across the country
have claimed thousands of innocent lives. Most of these conflicts
were driven by exclusivity that led to a belief within each group
that they possessed the absolute truth.
A lack of tolerance among followers of different religions has
been blamed for the incessant bloody conflicts occurring across
the country.
Scholars taking part in the discussion blamed the conflicts on
religious exclusivity, particularly due to the establishment of
religious schools.
Taking a rather different approach, Witdarmono, from Kompas
daily suggested that education system be upgraded through
intensive dialog to get a broader view on religion.
"Classification of people according to ethnicity, religion and
race must be avoided. Religion can only be understood by adult
people," he said.
According to Witdarmono such a classification could prompt
extremism.
Meanwhile, Masdar F. Mas'udi emphasized that the practice of
ones religion should be a private part of a person's daily life
and the state, therefore, must not interfere in it. "When anyone
comes into social interaction, they will bring common values," he
said.
Masdar, from the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Islamic organization,
said that state interference within a community, such as the
appointment of an imam (leader), would also spark conflict. He
suggested that the state allow the community to determine their
own leader.
Alois A. Nugroho from Atmajaya University said it would be
better for parents to educate their children through stories than
religious dogma.