Tracing the Dynamic Spectrum of Religious Moderation in the Local Custom of North Sumatera

Abstract

<p>As a miniature of Indonesia’s diversity, North Sumatra requires a long transformation within the framework of religious moderation to build harmony and maturity. This study aims to reveal the dynamic spectrum of religious moderation in the bubble of North Sumatra’s local wisdom. This research employs a descriptive qualitative method by involving six subjects who were selected through a purposive sampling technique. Subject criteria are natives of North Sumatra and have sufficient knowledge of religious moderation in the local custom of North Sumatra. In-depth interviews, observations, and document analysis were used to collect the required data. This study reveals a vast spectrum of diversity among the North Sumatrans. In the meantime, religious moderation is evidence of upholding religious ideals integrated with the local culture. Moreover, this research also shows how the people of North Sumatra from the following three regions, (1) Padangsidempuan and South Tapanuli, (2) Central Tapanuli and Sibolga City, and (3) Tarutung, practice the values of religious moderation in their daily activities. They performed this practice because of the desire to maintain unity in diversity and high aspirations to build a society that is peaceful, harmonious, and free from all conflicts.</p>

Islamic moderation in elementary school: strengthening the Aswaja Annadhliyah curriculum in preventing religious radicalism

“…Islamic moderation from the Nahdlatul Ulama perspective mainstreams the character of nationalism and religiosity; its characteristics are at-tawashut (middle/moderate attitude), at-tawazun (balanced), at-tasamuh (tolerance), at-ta'adul (upright), and amar ma'ruf nahi munkar (calling for good deeds and forbidding evil) [35]. These attitudes are the principles of the middle way, which in the Quran is called ummatan wasathan (the middle people) [36]. Such a form of people is described in the Quran as khaira ummah (the best of society) [37].…”