Repentance

As a country where almost 90 percent of the people are Moslem and where one of the principles of the Pancasila philosophy is Belief in God, I believe it is quite natural that at a time when many disasters continue to befall the country and the people, people will think that these occurrences are perhaps the wrath of God.

Several months ago, the Indonesian Council of Ulemas (MUI) issued a statement to the effect that our country and the people have been on the threshold of moral decadence. Several weeks ago at a rally some Moslem scholars called on the people, the government and the community, to seek God's forgiveness for all wrongdoings and sins. It is touching indeed and should cause us concern. We may not realize what sins and wrongdoings we have done. But we should not assume that all these disasters are only a test of our faith. It would be arrogant to think such. We should remember several verses of the Holy Book that require us to hasten to ask for God's forgiveness.

A call to repent nationally is more of a moral appeal and not a political call as suggested by the minister of religious affairs.

H.W. PIENANDORO

Bogor, West Java