BUILDING INTERFAITH PEACE THROUGH YOUTH REFORMATION

Case Study of Preliminary Efforts in Indonesia

             Youth is the happiest period in the phases of life. It is in this stage that I truly feel a constant energy to create change. It is often said that the youth are the backbone for the development of a nation. It sounds cliché, but this statement is a proven fact in the hemispheres of the world. Through sheer force of spirit, the youth have painted their colors in various revolutionary movements. If the television feeds into us pessimism regarding the puzzling situation of Indonesia, I believe that the youth could provide an answer thereto.

            Conflicts after conflict continue to befall our nation. Corruption, gender equality, poverty and interfaith conflicts spin one after another like the seasons. Our leaders, those tasked with responsibility thereof are endlessly mocked. It has passed unnoticed that the polemic has infected us with rampant pessimism towards our own country.

            I have always garnered a certain positive energy from inspirational stories of our youth in transformative movements in Indonesia, from the movements of Bung Tomo, Sok Hok Gie and on till the reformation. They have all left a bittersweet tale of struggle by the youth. It should come as no great surprise if the youth of today should be regarded as capable agents of change towards the challenges of the twenty-first century.

            Diversity truly is an interesting story to listen to, especially when that same diversity is founded upon tolerance. As a nation of the world, Indonesia possesses a great potential for diversity, but with it, a great threat towards unity. A common problem would be religious conflicts, which has most recently resurfaced in our society.

            Spiritual diversity can unify Indonesia’s national existence, but that same plurality, whether internal or external, also harbors the seeds of dissent. Some which have violently sprouted as of late.

            We often hear of interfaith conflict reeking of jealousy, superiority and domination from reckless authorities responding in ill-advised manners. Most distressing, these conflicts are often based on individual ideologies, while also regarding the other party as having ‘soiled’ their faith. Unfortunate that they should unwittingly have blackened their own faces and faith, by divorcing tolerance.

The Basis for a Country Under God

            Do any of us remember the Jakarta Charter? In those days, our founding fathers sought to formulate the basis for our country. For three days, three figures gave their opinions thereto. They are Soekarno, Muhammad Yamin and Soepomo. After the Pancasila was formed, there exists intrigue in its path, it was to do with the first clause.

            In those days, many people from eastern Indonesia wanted that the clause should state ‘Theism based on Islamic Sharia, for its followers” be changed. They threatened secession from the Unitary Republic of Indonesiaif these demands were not satisfied. Meanwhile, Muslim elements with strong Islamic foundations try to maintain this first clause. A heated debate ensued, but in the end they could resolve the dispute in a peaceful manner and formulate a grand idea, “xxxxxxx”

            This result was seen as a just decision by all members of the council, and is even felt to have accommodated all religious parties. Indonesia has grounded the ideal of theism in the first clause of its national foundation. This shows that the Indonesians have established a state that recognizes divine intervention. The clause also signaled that this state should have a strong feeling of tolerance and strengthens the notion that Pancasila is open in nature, flexible and accommodative. In the book, Negara Pancasila, As’ad Said Ali emphasizes that this choice was very wise, much in contrast with Turkey which has fallen under years of dynasties and transfers of power, between Islam and Catholicism only to end it by forming a secular country. With that in mind, it is imperative that in the course of a nation’s history, there needs to be a synchronization between science and religion, for without science a nation is blind, and without religion it is limp.

            But what do we find today? As time goes on, we find religious conflicts which only serve to injure the first clause of the Pancasila. These conflicts are so diverse, and so frequent as to threaten the unity of this nation.

Inter-religious Conflicts

            Such conflicts have happened in many areas. Starting from Maluku, Situbondo, Tasikmalaya, Semarang and most recently Solo. Maluku has kept its heat and shows so sign of cooling down, it is a concretely saddening example. This conflict has claimed damages in lives and property. Good relations previously drawn in harmony have turned into tension and suspicion.

            This animosity has even brought about negative psychological effects of vengeance between the parties. Small problems often escalate due to religious ties. Ironic, since Maluku has always been known to be a courteous and peaceful region.

            The disturbances towards religious tolerance can also be noticed in Situbondo, Tasikmalaya, Sanggau Ledo, Tanah Abang, Poso as well as other places. Also sad, since for dozens and even hundreds of years the society of various religions in these conflict zones have lived in harmony and peace.

Conflict Resolution Efforts

            The existence of inter-religious conflicts thus far could very well be caused by injustice, clearly punctuated in the economic disparity between religious believers. It is also shown in the political treatments against religions, especially during the New Order regime, where the administration bestowed key positions to the elite of certain religions to gain support. These disturbances could destabilize the social-political lives of society, a decidedly unwanted occurrence.

            Freedom of religion must be upheld since it deals with human rights and pluralistic and multiculturalist ideas. A conscience for tolerance must be introduced to our country. Religion, though rooted in the same ideals, is still a separate entity. The views of religions and faiths to a given subject could differ fundamentally. It is not surprising that until now, several parties in Indonesia still spotlight these issues. Luckily, the Department of Religious Affairs have planned to formulate a Religious Harmony Act.

            We cannot thus deny that inter-religious tolerance in this country is an important factor, for without it then the relations between religions and faiths would be easily disturbed. Conflict-oriented approaches will be quite relevant in understanding the anatomy of religious conflicts.

Youth and Interfaith in Indonesia

            We always hear the saying “he is old, but young at heart”. We should realize that youth is not simply a matter of age, but one of spirit, hopes and willpower.

            After a recount, it seems to be insufficient to number all the youth movements. In a single campus there already is a host of student organizations, from executive bodies, to groups of college majors, senates, college press, research and development groups, to religious bodies, arts and theater as well as many others. All of which are engineered by the youth.

            In conflict resolution efforts, a possible step is to give a holistic understanding about the meaning of unity and of the struggle against inter-religious violence. Seeding concepts of tolerance must be the main basis. So far, religious conflicts are often carried out by the most underprivileged members of society, whether education, experience of welfare-wise. The most concrete role of youth is to approach these underprivileged elements and spread values of tolerance and peace. This could be done through college-community-service, community development, and dedicated research or through the organizations that they join. The youth could facilitate the society by making activities that proliferate these themes, either by way of seminars, discussion forums, religious analysis or other positive activities.

            With such programs, the youth not only learn to solve existing problems, by also to teach themselves to be leaders capable of accommodating all parties to unify Indonesia.

PROJECT PAPER

BUILDING INTERFAITH PEACE THROUGH YOUTH REFORMATION

Case Study of Preliminary Efforts in Indonesia

 

Background

            Interfaith conflict is a sad affair, when we remember that the world’s faiths teach its followers kindness and respect upon others. It is a painful reality howver, that faith is often used as a justification to massacre others. Fresh is our memories of the bloodshed of Ambon and Poso, both in the name of faith. Such is also the case between India and Pakistan, whereas the most recent local conflict happened in Bekasi. All these conflicts are borne from narrow fanaticism and overzealous suspicion against others.

            These phenomenon show how a peaceful world order is not yet in the consciousness of the world’s religious believers; a dream for peace crushed by political ego, economics and man’s ‘faith’. Faith has lost its authentic meaning as a path to peace, since it has only served to strengthen exclusive and intolerant theological ideas, radicalizing religious believers instead of teaching them inclusivity and tolerance.

Problem Identification

- Misconceptions of religious teachings

According to the Secretary General of the International Conference of Islamic Scholars (ICIS) KH Hasyim Muzadi, misconceptions towards religious teachings are the reason for religious conflicts. A faulty understanding of religious teachings creates a faulty implementation. This misuse of faith can be in the form of exclusivism, prone to conflict or a liberalization which is prone to the abolition of the faith itself.

Besides that, other factors which often become the cause of religious conflicts are as follows:

- Seeing difference and diversity as a threat

- Feeling that one’s own faith has highest accord (religious chauvinism)

Goal

            From the aforementioned problems, ideas were conceived with the goal of uniting Indonesian youth, by socializing the dangers against unity from religious conflicts. It targets the youth since they are in essence growing up to be adults who are capable of individual choice, analysis and problem-solving, as well as developing democratic leadership skills.

Activities

            Programs have been designed to foster care and awareness of the dangers of interfaith conflicts, among those proposed are as follows:

1. Camping activities followed by children from a variety of faiths and social backgrounds, for example those from Islamic boarding schools, churches, viharas etc.

2. Making a community service/charity event by involving all youth elements representative of their faiths

3. Conducting open discussions to formulate the challenges apparent in interfaith conflicts as well as to actively engage and solve those problems.

 

Full Name : Astrini Novi Puspita

Nick Name : Astri

Place of Birth : Yogyakarta

Contact address : Gendeng GK 4/615 RT 64 RW 16 Baciro, Yogyakarta

University : Present Majoring Management at the Faculty of Business and Economics, Gadjah Mada University

Country : Indonesia