'RI model of religius tolerance'

JAKARTA (JP): A visiting American religious scholar said Indonesia is a model of religious tolerance that other countries could do well to emulate.

Lawrence Sullivan, the director of the Center for the Study of World Religions at Harvard University, is visiting Indonesia for two weeks as a guest of the Ministry of Religious Affairs. He said Indonesia had created a new approach to harmonious religious coexistence.

"It has created a situation in which people from diverse religious and cultural backgrounds can live in harmony," he told reporters after meeting with Minister of Religious Affairs Tarmizi Taher on Friday.

Religious harmony is the mainstay of Indonesia's development effort, he pointed out.

"The country has successfully integrated religious considerations into its development policies, and this is something that cannot be found in countries in Europe or North America," he said. "I'm here to study and understand it better."

Sullivan will meet religious leaders from the Indonesian Council of Ulemas, the Communion of Churches in Indonesia, the Roman Catholic Church, the Indonesian Buddhist Council, and the Hindu Community.

He will also visit religious universities such as the State Institute of Islamic Studies in Ujungpandang, South Sulawesi, as well some Christian and Catholic universities in Yogyakarta.

Minister Tarmizi discussed with Sullivan the international conference on religions to be held here in July 1997. Indonesia, Japan and Harvard University will sponsor the conference. (01)