Religious pluralism
Religious pluralism
Dr. Nurcholish Madjid's statement explaining pluralism in
religions in Indonesia (Kompas, Dec. 10, 1999) has driven me to
make some comments. He said: "Why are we different? May God
explain to you some day!"
It is a pity if that is the extent of his explanation because
the religious people in Indonesia will not understand. The
Acehnese still want to separate from Indonesia to establish an
Islamic country. The religious war in Ambon between Christians
and Muslims is still going on.
Should we expect an explanation from Satrio Piningit (a sort
of Robin Hood) who never comes? God gave humans' a brain to
analyze and carry out critical thinking about all problems that
happen in the world. All matters follow the law of "action and
reaction" (or cause and effect).
The explanation should start from the melting point of
pluralism itself, which in Islam is Tauhid (the science of God,
or what Indonesians call Pancasila). With Tauhid we can examine
the Isra Mi'raj (the night journey/ascension) of Prophet Muhammad
who traveled through dimensions of space and time from Al Haram
Mosque, Mecca (which is the point of direction for Muslims to
pray to), to Al Aqsa Mosque, Jerusalem, (which is the point of
direction for Christians and other religions), to Sidratul
Muntaha (Heaven), and back again. This journey can explain the
beginning of human beings and religions from the very first time.
Religions come to the world as a cycle that never ends, the
next religion will complete the previous one (Koran: Chapter
Yassin verses 36, 37, 38, 39, 40).
From the Isra Mi'raj we know that the point of direction for
Muslims and Christians are the opposite of each other, that means
one of them was created first and the other was created last.
That is why there is always the potential for the two religions
to have conflicts.
The Madinah Charter in our prophet's history is an agreement
between Muslims and Christians not to disturb or interfere with
each other. Identical to that problem our founders in Indonesia
had also made The Jakarta Charter, so that Pancasila is
acceptable to all the people and religions of Indonesia.
Religions are easy to know and understand if we can recognize
the symbolic stories. For example: First, there is no difference
between Malaikat Jibril in Islam and Angel Gabriel in
Christianity. Second, let us review the Christian prayer: Our
Father in Heaven above, take us to your Kingdom, and if we look
at the Koran, Surah (Chapter) Al Mulk, verse 67, it describes
also a Heavenly Kingdom. So the goal of the two religions is
really just the same thing. For Muslims that Kingdom is a reward
for those who devoted themselves to God (Ar Rahman 55: 49).
In this holy month of Ramadhan and the last Christmas of this
century, let us open our hearts to know each other, reconcile and
join our people as one to rebuild our New Indonesia.
DR. AGUS UTORO
Serang, West Java