Encountering the Religious Radicalism Movement Through Reconstructing the Multicultural Theology and Its Implication For Christian Leaders in Indonesia

Abstract

This research aims to create a harmonious relationship among different religions in Indonesia. This aim is reached through reconstructing a multicultural theology based on biblical understanding. The multicultural theology is a biblical principle that be constructed in balancing between Old Testament and New Testament, between general revelation and special revelation. By exposing the general revelation based on theocentric dimension, we found general principles about how to make a good relationship among people in their differences, according to God’s perspective. At the same time, multicultural theology also exposes particular revelation principles centered upon the Christocentric dimension. This research is a qualitative study with a library approach. Data is analyzed by interpretation, critical thinking, and truth and healthy consideration based on the primary source. We found a Christian value to be a foundation to make the relationship in harmony with other people. For this purpose we are proposing a theological framework designed from Biblical principles, covering the following: (1) Cultural Mandate, (2) Human Nature, (3) Theological principles: God’s Sovereignty, God’s Providence and God’s Justice, (4) Incarnation, (5) Universal Soteriology (6) Present Theocracy, (7) Church Nature and (8) Eschatological Multiculture. Christian leaders are central people that must create a relationship with other people in harmony. Through this way, the Christian leaders can engage the religious radicalism by doing good things and togetherness in social work.

Interrelated values between Bhineka Tunggal Ika and religious moderation to strengthen pluralism in Indonesia

“…In Christian values, the value of justice is part of the theological design as the basis for making harmonious relationships with other people. The value of justice is derived from the biblical principles that state "God's Providence and God's Justice" (Sudarmanto & Latumahina, 2020). God's attendance and justice must make humans equal and treat each other with value.…”

Reconstruction of Islamic Religious Education to Encountering Terrorism and Islamic Radicalism

“…Every step of terrorism must have an expected effect, namely an attempt to divert attention, create an atmosphere of fear and chaos, occurrence of revenge and the occurrence of mutual accusations between conflicting political elite groups. The spectrum of motivations behind the movement and its actions has a very diverse spectrum, meaning that it is not only politically motivated, or economically motivated, but it can be ideology, revenge or cumulative anger collectively and so on (Sudarmanto & Latumahina, 2020).…”