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.