Fostering Religious Exclusivism and Political Pluralism in Indonesia Through Interfaith-based Student Community

Abstract

Religious exclusivism in some degree generally makes religious people to be intolerant, hardly to respect the diversity, or in other words religious exclusivism has produced social/political exclusivism. This is the real problem in a multi-religious nation like Indonesia. This paper is to show that rather to depend absolutely on the state to solve the problem; the grass-root have to be taught and empowered to be able to celebrate and respect the diversity, or in other word to be social/political pluralism. The challenge is how religious exclusivism can be compatible with political pluralism? This is the key for solving the problem of religious intolerance. This paper chooses Young Interfaith Peacemaker Community (YIPC) Indonesia, a relatively new interfaith-based student movement as a case study to show that in some degree religious exclusivism is compatible with social/political pluralism. This study is based on qualitative method, which data gathering is done through participant observation, interview and focus groups, as well as the documents. The findings show that the interfaith dialogue is the main means for peacebuilding among religions in YIPC. In conclusion, this study is significant to fill the gap about the effectiveness and impact of interfaith dialogue among youth. Here we found that interfaith relations in YIPC were able to make impact to those youth from social exclusivist to be social pluralist while they remained as religious exclusivists.

The role of religious beliefs and collective narcissism in interreligious contact on university students

“…Community heterogeneity as manifested in the ethnical, cultural, and religious diversity in Indonesia, if well-managed, could be a national forte. Otherwise, it may promote potential conflicts, particularly pertaining to majority-versus-minority issues ( Arifianto, 2009 ; Jonathan et al., 2016 ). In some areas in Indonesia, in which the majority of the residents are Muslim, acts of intolerance against minorities are common ( Department of State, 2017 ; Widiasari, 2018 ).…”

“…Act of intolerance is one of the repercussions of religious exclusivism ( Jonathan et al., 2016 ). In such a view, it is believed that one's religion is the only way of truth and salvation, while other views are wrong.…”

“…In such a view, it is believed that one's religion is the only way of truth and salvation, while other views are wrong. If such religious exclusive view is accompanied by an exclusive political movement, it may result in totalitarianism and authoritarianism in the name of religion ( Jonathan et al., 2016 ). Political movements leading to religious authoritarianism are now targeting university students in Indonesia ( Arifah and Renaldi, 2018 ).…”

“…Some scholars suggest the importance of contact and dialogues between different groups of religion and faith to build trust and tolerance ( Jonathan et al., 2016 ) and to lower prejudice and suspicion among religious adherents ( Arifianto, 2009 ). Kanas et al.…”

“…Political movements leading to religious authoritarianism are now targeting university students in Indonesia (Arifah and Renaldi, 2018). Some scholars suggest the importance of contact and dialogues between different groups of religion and faith to build trust and tolerance (Jonathan et al, 2016) and to lower prejudice and suspicion among religious adherents (Arifianto, 2009). Kanas et al (2017) emphasize the significance of interreligious friendship in lowering negative attitudes towards outgroups.…”